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Ohio Northern University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Ada, OH · 2,489 students

The verdict

Ohio Northern University charges a net price of $24,478/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $97,912. Graduates earn a median $80,928 ten years after entry, $32,568/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3 years — a 20-year net return of $553,448, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Ohio Northern University's 3-year payback ranks #178 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 86% of them, and #10 of 144 in Ohio.

Better ROI than 86% of US colleges#178 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$24,478
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$80,928
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
3 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
74%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Ohio Northern University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$24,478/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$97,912our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$80,928Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$32,568/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$27,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback3 yrsour math
20-year net return$553,448our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Ohio Northern University's own numbers. Net price $24,478 × 4 years = $97,912 total. Median earnings $80,928 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $32,568 a year of premium. $97,912 ÷ $32,568 = 3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $553,448. 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 Ohio Northern University students graduate with?

A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 33% of the $80,928 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Ohio Northern University students graduate?

75% finish their degree. Spread the $97,912 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $130,549 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Ohio Northern University expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?

Its $24,478 net price runs $4,696 above the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, or $18,782 more across the full degree.

Ohio Northern University: frequently asked questions

Is Ohio Northern University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Ohio Northern University charges $24,478/yr after aid ($97,912 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $80,928 ten years out — $32,568/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 3 years and returns $553,448 net over 20 years, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast.
How long does a Ohio Northern University degree take to pay off?
About 3 years. We divide the $97,912 four-year net cost by the $32,568/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Ohio Northern University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $24,478/yr — about $97,912 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Ohio Northern University compare to other Ohio colleges?
It ranks #10 of 144 Ohio colleges we track by payback. Its $80,928 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $24,478 net price is above the national median of $16,902.