Columbus, OH · Private University
Is Ohio State University Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$60,409
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$12,859
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$38,365
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$153,460
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.57x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
6 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
87.7%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$19,976
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$18,292
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Ohio State University-Main Campus graduates earn $15,409 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Ohio State University-Main Campus ranked by graduate earnings
102 graduates
324 graduates
68 graduates
68 graduates
178 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Ohio State University-Main Campus
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Ohio State University-Main Campus, the gap between the highest-earning major (Industrial Engineering: $95,405) and the lowest (Agricultural Public Services: $23,221) is $72,184/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial EngineeringBest ROI | $95,405 | 2.5x |
| Computer Engineering | $94,224 | 2.5x |
| Engineering, Other | $92,338 | 2.4x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $92,015 | 2.4x |
| Chemical Engineering | $88,132 | 2.3x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $87,656 | 2.3x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,755 | 2.3x |
| Applied Mathematics(1yr data) | $82,523 | 2.1x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $82,036 | 2.1x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $81,989 | 2.1x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $80,463 | 2.1x |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $79,987 | 2.1x |
| Materials Engineering | $79,484 | 2.1x |
| Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences, Other | $78,729 | 2.0x |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $78,642 | 2.0x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $77,705 | 2.0x |
| Civil Engineering | $74,132 | 1.9x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $73,933 | 1.9x |
| Real Estate | $72,701 | 1.9x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $72,185 | 1.9x |
| Physics | $72,007 | 1.9x |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $70,360 | 1.8x |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $69,972 | 1.8x |
| Marketing | $69,870 | 1.8x |
| International Business | $69,493 | 1.8x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $69,060 | 1.8x |
| Agricultural Engineering | $67,565 | 1.8x |
| Air Transportation | $65,965 | 1.7x |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $64,319 | 1.7x |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $63,305 | 1.6x |
| Food Science and Technology | $61,283 | 1.6x |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $60,810 | 1.6x |
| Economics | $60,626 | 1.6x |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $59,729 | 1.6x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $59,528 | 1.6x |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $59,168 | 1.5x |
| Mathematics | $58,860 | 1.5x |
| Political Science and Government | $57,749 | 1.5x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $57,596 | 1.5x |
| Public Health | $57,074 | 1.5x |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $56,870 | 1.5x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $56,414 | 1.5x |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $55,855 | 1.5x |
| International/Global Studies(1yr data) | $55,240 | 1.4x |
| Public Administration | $55,092 | 1.4x |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $55,030 | 1.4x |
| Philosophy | $54,954 | 1.4x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,473 | 1.4x |
| Geography and Cartography | $54,449 | 1.4x |
| Business/Commerce, General | $54,191 | 1.4x |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $53,666 | 1.4x |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $53,393 | 1.4x |
| Journalism | $53,317 | 1.4x |
| Landscape Architecture | $53,154 | 1.4x |
| Architecture | $52,694 | 1.4x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $52,639 | 1.4x |
| Chemistry | $52,377 | 1.4x |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $52,308 | 1.4x |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $52,034 | 1.4x |
| Biology, General | $51,478 | 1.3x |
| Public Policy Analysis(1yr data) | $50,643 | 1.3x |
| Apparel and Textiles | $50,521 | 1.3x |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $50,300 | 1.3x |
| Criminology | $50,244 | 1.3x |
| Genetics | $48,720 | 1.3x |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $48,566 | 1.3x |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $48,547 | 1.3x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $47,929 | 1.3x |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $47,494 | 1.2x |
| Plant Sciences | $46,262 | 1.2x |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $46,064 | 1.2x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $45,838 | 1.2x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $45,629 | 1.2x |
| Sociology | $45,403 | 1.2x |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $44,842 | 1.2x |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $44,828 | 1.2x |
| Psychology, General | $44,475 | 1.2x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $44,071 | 1.1x |
| Special Education and Teaching | $43,720 | 1.1x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $43,135 | 1.1x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $42,348 | 1.1x |
| Animal Sciences | $42,088 | 1.1x |
| History | $41,697 | 1.1x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $41,241 | 1.1x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $41,029 | 1.1x |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy | $40,572 | 1.1x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $40,281 | 1.1x |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $39,750 | 1.0x |
| Social Work | $39,277 | 1.0x |
| Dance | $39,174 | 1.0x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $38,263 | 1.0x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $38,118 | 1.0x |
| Anthropology | $38,101 | 1.0x |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $35,856 | 0.9x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $34,926 | 0.9x |
| Music | $31,456 | 0.8x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $31,403 | 0.8x |
| Agricultural Public ServicesLowest(1yr data) | $23,221 | 0.6x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 1.57x | $60,409 | Good ROI |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 1.88x | $60,249 | Good ROI |
| Purdue University-Main Campus | 2.52x | $72,424 | Strong ROI |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 1.82x | $73,792 | Good ROI |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 1.58x | $63,435 | Good ROI |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 1.82x | $71,631 | Good ROI |
The Bottom Line
Ohio State University-Main Campus offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $60,409 10 years after starting — $15,409 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 6 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.