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Mount Vernon Nazarene University

#1 Best Education Colleges in Ohio
Private nonprofit Mount Vernon, OH · Town · Great Lakes · 100% data
B- Earnings C+ Graduation C- Value
Graduation Rate
66% C+
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$49,555 B-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$22,421 D+
31% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
84% C-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +22% vs avg
Graduation +16% vs avg
Net Price 31% vs avg
Mobility Top 88%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.1 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Ohio.

13.1× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,081,117.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Earnings 22% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $13.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Mount Vernon Nazarene University Matters

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private university in Mount Vernon, 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
1,358
Setting
Town
Designations
59
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C-
Top 59% overall
B-
Earnings
$49,555 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
D+
Affordability
$22,421/yr net
C+
Graduation
66% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.8% climb Q1→Q5
C-
Selectivity
84% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.37 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a good fit for students who are looking for a supportive community while pursuing their studies in areas like Business and Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Visual and Performing Arts, and Humanities. With an acceptance rate of 84%, it welcomes a diverse range of applicants, making it an accessible option for those who want to continue their education in a nurturing environment. The focus here is on personal growth and academic achievement, supported by a graduation rate of 66%.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $49,555 within ten years, which is a solid return on their investment in education. This kind of earning potential can be particularly appealing for those entering fields like healthcare or business, where salaries can vary significantly. The affordability of attending Mount Vernon Nazarene is bolstered by a net price of $22,421 after financial aid, allowing many students to graduate with manageable debt levels.

When considering the financial implications, students typically leave with a median debt of $25,000, which is relatively reasonable compared to many other institutions. This balance between cost and potential earnings can create a more sustainable path for graduates. Overall, those who thrive at Mount Vernon Nazarene often appreciate a close-knit community and are motivated to make a positive impact in their chosen fields.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Mount Vernon Nazarene University 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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Mount Vernon Nazarene University, located in Mount Vernon, Ohio, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,131. The graduation rate is roughly 66%.

Acceptance Rate
84%
Retention Rate
79%
SAT Average
1131
ACT Midpoint
22
SAT Range
1046–1315
ACT Range
18–25
Full-Time Faculty
96%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,687
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.37
First-Gen Students
38%
Applicants
1,070
Admitted
913

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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Mount Vernon Nazarene University is $37,158, 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 $22,421. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,358 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$37,158
Out-of-State
$37,158
Avg Net Price
$22,421
Median Debt
$25,000
Pell Grant Rate
30%
Federal Loan Rate
50%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$22,358
Family Income $30K–$48K
$20,508
Family Income $48K–$75K
$18,116
Family Income $110K+
$26,271

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Mount Vernon Nazarene University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Mount Vernon Nazarene University earn a median of $49,555, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$43,046
8 Years
$46,275
10 Years
$49,555
Debt-to-Earnings
0.5x
Earning > $25K
69%

Earnings Trajectory

$43,046 6yr $46,275 8yr $49,555 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (171)
55%
100% (171)
55%
100% (171)
55%
100% (171)
55%

How Mount Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation66%Earnings 10yr$50KNet Price$22KRetention79%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate30%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$22K$0-30K$21K$30-48K$18K$48-75K$26K$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%5.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%14.6%MOBILITY0.80%

College ROI Calculator

Is Mount Vernon Nazarene University Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Mount Vernon Nazarene University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,421/year ($89,684 total). Graduates earn $49,555 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,170,801 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,081,117 (13.1× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 66% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$89,684
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,170,801
Net Return
$1,081,117
ROI Multiple
13.1×
Cost Per Year
$22,421
Median Debt
$25,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
66%

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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Mount Vernon Nazarene 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 0.80%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.80%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
14.6%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
5.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$77,200

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Mount Vernon Nazarene 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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.70
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.03
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
9.1%
Support Ratio
1.00
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

Federal Grants
$3,924,003
Investment Income
$-3,276,368

Top Programs

The fields Mount Vernon Nazarene University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Mount Vernon Nazarene University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Mount Vernon Nazarene University, located in Mount Vernon, Ohio, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,131. The graduation rate is roughly 66%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mount Vernon Nazarene University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Mount Vernon Nazarene University is $37,158, 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 $22,421. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,358 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

Is Mount Vernon Nazarene University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Mount Vernon Nazarene University earn a median of $49,555, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Mount Vernon Nazarene University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Mount Vernon Nazarene 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 0.80%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Mount Vernon Nazarene 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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% 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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