Best College ROI in Oh 2026
104 colleges in Oh analyzed for return on investment. Central State University leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Oh has 104 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 40 public institutions and 64 private ones. Across the 104 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $25K and earn $78K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
94% of Oh colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Central State University (median $95K on Computer Science).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Oh
Central State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Oh's ROI rankings on its Computer Science program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $9K in median debt.
Franklin University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Lourdes University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $17K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Oh
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central State University(public) | Computer Science | $9K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | Franklin University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Lourdes University(private) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 4 | Case Western Reserve University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | Heidelberg University(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | Kenyon College(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 7 | Malone University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | Miami University-Hamilton(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 9 | Ohio University-Main Campus(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 10 | Shawnee State University(public) | Computer Programming | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 11 | University of Akron Main Campus(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 12 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 13 | Ashland University(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | Cedarville University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | Cleveland State University(public) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | Defiance College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 17 | Denison University(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 18 | DeVry University-Ohio(private) | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $26K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | Hiram College(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | John Carroll University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
College debt and earnings data for Oh is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Central State University has the best ROI in Oh with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Science, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $9K in median debt.
Across 104 Oh colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $25K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $78K.
Central State University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Science). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Oh has 104 colleges in our database (40 public, 64 private). Of the 104 with reportable ROI, 94% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).