Kent State University at Kent — ROI, Cost & Payback
Kent State University at Kent charges a net price of $20,787/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $83,148. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,388, 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, Kent State University at Kent does not clear its cost — it ranks #84 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) | $20,787/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $83,148 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,388 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$2,972/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$142,588 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Kent State University at Kent's own numbers. Net price $20,787 × 4 years = $83,148 total. Median earnings $45,388 fall $2,972 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 $83,148 bill in about 8.3 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Kent State University at Kent students graduate with?
A median $24,500 in federal loans among completers, or 54% of the $45,388 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Kent State University at Kent students graduate?
64% finish their degree — 36% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $83,148 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $129,919 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Kent State University at Kent expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?
Its $20,787 net price runs $1,005 above the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, or $4,018 more across the full degree.