Shawnee State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Shawnee State University charges a net price of $14,381/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $57,524. Median earnings ten years after entry are $39,596, 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, Shawnee State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #105 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) | $14,381/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $57,524 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $39,596 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$8,764/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$232,804 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Shawnee State University's own numbers. Net price $14,381 × 4 years = $57,524 total. Median earnings $39,596 fall $8,764 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 $57,524 bill in about 5.8 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Shawnee State University students graduate with?
A median $23,000 in federal loans among completers, or 58% of the $39,596 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Shawnee State University students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $57,524 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $119,842 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Shawnee State University expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?
Its $14,381 net price runs $5,402 below the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, and $21,606 less across the full degree.