At $20,413/yr net price, Ohio University-Main Campus graduates earn $52,581/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $18,581/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $20,413 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $81,652 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,581/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$18,581/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 66.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,056 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,075/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,933/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,808/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,093/yr |
| $110,001+ | $23,216/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering, General. | Master | $100,690 | $25,548 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $97,959 | $41,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $90,283 | $40,750 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Master | $87,051 | $37,230 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Doctoral | $82,440 | |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $70,719 | $66,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Doctoral | $69,338 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $68,219 | $23,125 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $67,202 | $21,490 |
| Economics. | Master | $64,493 | $40,849 |
The Risk Factor
66.4% of students at Ohio University-Main Campus graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 34% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Ohio University-Main Campus gives you a middle-of-the-road financial return that depends almost entirely on your major. The $52,581 median earnings ten years out sits above the debt load you take on, and a 66% graduation rate with 82% retention means most people who start actually finish. That combination keeps the risk manageable, but the payoff is uneven across programs.
Your major decides everything here. Electrical engineering and computer science graduates clear roughly $67,000-$68,000, about $15,000 more than the school-wide median. Nursing is the smartest bet on cost: you earn over $62,000 while carrying only $13,672 in debt, far less than the $26,216 mechanical engineering grads owe. If you land in engineering, computing, nursing, or industrial technology, the numbers work in your favor. Programs outside these fields aren't listed among the top earners, so if you're headed toward a lower-paying field, expect returns closer to or below the median.
The main financial risk is borrowing engineering-level debt without engineering-level earnings. Mechanical engineering and industrial production both push debt past $25,000, and if you switch out of those majors after taking on the cost, the math turns against you.
Net price scales steeply with income. Under $30k, you pay about $13,075. over $110k, you pay $23,216. For lower-income families the gap between sticker and actual cost is real, and a nursing or CS degree at $13,000 a year is a strong deal. For higher-income families paying north of $22,000 annually, the return only justifies itself in the top-earning majors.
This school fits you if you're targeting engineering, computer science, or nursing. If you're aiming at a lower-paying field and paying the top-tier price, look harder at whether the debt pays off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ohio University-Main Campus worth the cost?
Ohio University-Main Campus offers mixed value with a net price of $20,413 and median earnings of $52,581 ten years after graduation. The return depends heavily on your major, with engineering and nursing programs showing strong earnings potential while other programs may struggle to justify the cost.
What are the highest paying majors at Ohio University-Main Campus?
Engineering leads at $100,690 median earnings, followed by nursing at $97,959 and business administration at $90,283. These programs offer solid returns on investment compared to the school's overall graduate earnings of $52,581.
How much student debt do Ohio University-Main Campus graduates have?
The median debt load is $21,056, which is manageable for high-earning majors like engineering but could be challenging for graduates in lower-paying fields. With a 66% graduation rate, there's also risk of taking on debt without completing a degree.
Does Ohio University-Main Campus have good financial aid?
The net price of $20,413 suggests moderate financial aid availability. However, with median post-graduation earnings of $52,581, many students will need to choose their major carefully to ensure the investment pays off.