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James A. Rhodes State College

Public Lima, OH · Rural · Great Lakes · 80% data
B+ Value B+ Affordability C Earnings
Graduation Rate
39% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$41,855 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$8,757 B+
49% less than the typical college
Enrollment
1,590
Earnings +3% vs avg
Graduation -31% vs avg
Net Price +-49% vs avg
Mobility Top 86%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 26.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $26.1 over 20 years.

26.1× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $26.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $879,239.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 39% — 31% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $26.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why James A. Rhodes State College Matters

James A. Rhodes State College is a public college in Lima, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
1,590
Setting
Rural
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Criminal Justice

Why students choose James A. Rhodes State College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 52% overall
C
Earnings
$41,855 median
B+
Value
4.8× net price
B+
Affordability
$8,757/yr net
D
Graduation
39% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.8% climb Q1→Q5
D
Diversity
0.33 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

At James A. Rhodes State College, you’ll find a welcoming community that’s well-suited for students aiming for practical careers in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Humanities, and Education. With an enrollment of about 1,590, it's an approachable size, making it easier to connect with classmates and instructors. For many, the focus is on gaining skills that lead directly to employment, which is especially appealing for those eager to start their careers without a lengthy detour.

Looking ahead, the financial outlook after graduation is promising, with a median earning of $41,855 after ten years. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, particularly for graduates in high-demand fields. The college's affordability is a significant draw, with a net price of $8,757 after financial aid. While 15% of students receive Pell Grants, the investment in education here can pay off, especially for those who take full advantage of the resources available.

In terms of financial considerations, students graduate with a median debt of $12,000, which is manageable for many. The environment at Rhodes tends to favor those who are pragmatic and focused on building a career. Students who thrive here often appreciate a hands-on approach to learning and are ready to dive into their studies without the pressure of overwhelming debt. It's a solid option for anyone looking to balance education with a realistic path to employment.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective James A. Rhodes State College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into James A. Rhodes State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Lima, Ohio, James A. Rhodes State College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.

Full-Time Faculty
35%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,989
Student–Faculty Ratio
17:1
Diversity Index
0.33
First-Gen Students
47%

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 James A. Rhodes State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at James A. Rhodes State College is $9,120, 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 $8,757. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,461 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$4,560
Out-of-State
$9,120
Avg Net Price
$8,757
Median Debt
$12,000
Pell Grant Rate
15%
Federal Loan Rate
8%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$7,461
Family Income $30K–$48K
$7,850
Family Income $48K–$75K
$10,275
Family Income $110K+
$13,392

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 James A. Rhodes State College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is James A. Rhodes State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of James A. Rhodes State College report median earnings of $41,855, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$38,657
8 Years
$38,391
10 Years
$41,855
Debt-to-Earnings
0.29x
Earning > $25K
51%

Earnings Trajectory

$38,657 6yr $38,391 8yr $41,855 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (27)
10%
100% (27)
10%
100% (27)
10%
100% (27)
10%

How James Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation39%Earnings 10yr$42KNet Price$9KMedian Debt$12KPell Grant Rate15%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$7K$0-30K$8K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$13K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%9.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%8.7%MOBILITY0.83%

College ROI Calculator

Is James A. Rhodes State College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, James A. Rhodes State College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,757/year ($35,028 total). Graduates earn $41,855 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $914,267 in total earnings — a net gain of $879,239 (26.1× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 39% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$35,028
Projected 20yr Earnings
$914,267
Net Return
$879,239
ROI Multiple
26.1×
Cost Per Year
$8,757
Median Debt
$12,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
39%

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 James A. Rhodes State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

James A. Rhodes State College 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 0.83%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.83%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
8.7%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
9.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$87,225
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is James A. Rhodes State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at James A. Rhodes State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.28, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.28
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.09
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.0%
Support Ratio
0.97
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$4,509,854
Federal Grants
$1,205,299
Investment Income
$111,204

Top Programs

The fields James A. Rhodes State College 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into James A. Rhodes State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Lima, Ohio, James A. Rhodes State College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend James A. Rhodes State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at James A. Rhodes State College is $9,120, 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 $8,757. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,461 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.

Is James A. Rhodes State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of James A. Rhodes State College report median earnings of $41,855, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does James A. Rhodes State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

James A. Rhodes State College 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 0.83%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is James A. Rhodes State College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at James A. Rhodes State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.28, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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