Central State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Central State University charges a net price of $13,096/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $52,384. Median earnings ten years after entry are $33,267, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Central State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #124 of 144 Ohio colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,096/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $52,384 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $33,267 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$15,093/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $30,739 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$354,244 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Central State University's own numbers. Net price $13,096 × 4 years = $52,384 total. Median earnings $33,267 fall $15,093 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $52,384 bill in about 5.2 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Central State University students graduate with?
A median $30,739 in federal loans among completers, or 92% of the $33,267 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Central State University students graduate?
23% finish their degree — 77% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $52,384 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $227,757 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Central State University expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?
Its $13,096 net price runs $6,687 below the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, and $26,746 less across the full degree.