Ashland University
#5 Best Education Colleges in Ohio- Graduation Rate
- 61% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $52,928 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $21,988 D+
- 28% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.5 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Education Colleges in Ohio.
Every $1 spent returns $13.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,103,046.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 30% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Ashland University Matters
Ashland University is a private university in Ashland, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,199
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 28
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Ashland University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 76% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1035–1208. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,988 a year after grants and scholarships — 28% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $52,928 ten years after enrolling — 30% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 95% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.62 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just under 2,200 students, Ashland University is a great fit for those seeking a tight-knit community. The school stands out for its focus on practical majors like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Communications, and Humanities. A 76% acceptance rate means it’s accessible to a wide range of students who are looking for a supportive environment where they can grow academically and personally.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $52,928 within ten years. This figure provides a clear picture of the potential return on investment for those attending Ashland. With a graduation rate of 61%, many students find a path to success, especially in fields like business and health where demand is strong. The affordability factor is another plus, with a significant portion of students receiving Pell Grants to help cover costs.
When it comes to the bottom line, the net price after aid sits at $21,988, which is manageable when compared to the median debt of $25,000 that graduates carry. Students who thrive here often take advantage of the personalized attention available in smaller classes and engage actively in campus life. This supportive atmosphere, combined with the practical degree offerings, helps set up graduates for a positive trajectory in their careers.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Ashland University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ashland University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Ashland, Ohio, Ashland University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1120
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 1035–1208
- ACT Range
- 20–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 30%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,701
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.40
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
- Applicants
- 4,565
- Admitted
- 3,276
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ashland University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ashland University is $31,210, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,988. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,489 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $31,210
- Out-of-State
- $31,210
- Avg Net Price
- $21,988
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 38%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,489
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,893
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,052
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,507
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Ashland University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Ashland University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ashland University earn a median of $52,928, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,722
- 8 Years
- $49,201
- 10 Years
- $52,928
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.47x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (313)
- 52%
- 100% (313)
- 52%
- 100% (313)
- 52%
- 100% (313)
- 52%
How Ashland Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Ashland University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Ashland University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,988/year ($87,952 total). Graduates earn $52,928 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,190,998 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,103,046 (13.5× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 61% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $87,952
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,190,998
- Net Return
- $1,103,046
- ROI Multiple
- 13.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $21,988
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 61%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Ashland University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ashland University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.56%, a more modest figure. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.56%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $114,942
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-5,037,442
Top Programs
The fields Ashland University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 20% $61,319 early-career
- Education 15% $40,059 early-career
- Health Professions 12% $67,148 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 12% $36,992 early-career
- Humanities 11% $41,912 early-career
- Communications 8% $33,980 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $44,638 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Ashland University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ashland University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Ashland, Ohio, Ashland University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,120. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ashland University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ashland University is $31,210, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,988. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,489 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Ashland University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ashland University earn a median of $52,928, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Ashland University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ashland University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.56%, a more modest figure. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Ashland University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ashland University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ashland University.
- University of Mount UnionAlliance, OH · Close peer62% grad $53,217 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Taylor UniversityUpland, IN · Close peer75% grad $52,198 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Otterbein UniversityWesterville, OH · Close peer68% grad $53,313 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Capital UniversityColumbus, OH · Close peer63% grad $54,143 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The University of FindlayFindlay, OH · Close peer60% grad $56,996 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC · Close peer59% grad $48,039 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Ashland University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ashland University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note