Muskingum University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Muskingum University charges a net price of $19,532/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $78,128. Graduates earn a median $48,440 ten years after entry, $80/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 976.6 years — a 20-year net return of -$76,528, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Muskingum University's 976.6-year payback ranks #1,274 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 1% of them, and #68 of 144 in Ohio.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,532/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $78,128 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $48,440 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $80/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,369 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 976.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$76,528 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Muskingum University's own numbers. Net price $19,532 × 4 years = $78,128 total. Median earnings $48,440 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $80 a year of premium. $78,128 ÷ $80 = 976.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$76,528. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Muskingum University students graduate with?
A median $25,369 in federal loans among completers, or 52% of the $48,440 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Muskingum University students graduate?
56% finish their degree — 44% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $78,128 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $139,514 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Muskingum University expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?
Its $19,532 net price runs $251 below the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, and $1,002 less across the full degree.