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Ohio Northern University

#1 Best Nursing Colleges in Ohio
Private nonprofit Ada, OH · Town · Great Lakes · 100% data
A Earnings B Graduation B- Value
Graduation Rate
75% B
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$80,928 A
Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$24,478 D
43% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
74% C+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +98% vs avg
Graduation +31% vs avg
Net Price 43% vs avg
Mobility Top 44%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.1 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Nursing Colleges in Ohio.

23.1× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $23.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,168,415.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 98% more than the national college median.

  3. A 75% graduation rate — 31% above the national average.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $23.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Ohio Northern University Matters

Ohio Northern University is a private college in Ada, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 4% of all U.S. colleges.

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

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
2,489
Setting
Town
Designations
71
Primary Strengths
Engineering, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose Ohio Northern University

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 4% of colleges
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 40% overall
A
Earnings
$80,928 median
B-
Value
3.3× net price
D
Affordability
$24,478/yr net
B
Graduation
75% graduate
C+
Social Mobility
1.6% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Selectivity
74% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.35 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

Ohio Northern University is a good match for students looking for a well-rounded education in fields like Health Professions, Engineering, and Business. With an acceptance rate of 74%, it welcomes a diverse range of students who are eager to engage in their studies and get involved on campus. The graduation rate of 75% suggests that most students find the support they need to complete their degrees, which speaks to the community atmosphere you'll find here.

After graduation, students can expect solid earning potential, with an average salary of about $80,928 within ten years. This figure indicates that graduates can secure good-paying jobs in their chosen fields. The school’s affordability is also notable, allowing many students to pursue their education without overwhelming financial burdens. This combination of earnings and manageable costs can make a significant difference in career mobility.

When it comes to the bottom line, the net price after aid stands at approximately $24,478, which is relatively accessible for a private institution. With a median debt of $27,000, most graduates leave with a reasonable financial load, especially considering their earning potential. Students who thrive here tend to be those who are proactive about their education and take advantage of the various programs and resources available to them.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Ohio Northern 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 Ohio Northern University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Ohio Northern University, located in Ada, Ohio, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,252. The graduation rate is roughly 75%.

Acceptance Rate
74%
Retention Rate
84%
SAT Average
1252
ACT Midpoint
25
SAT Range
1175–1400
ACT Range
24–29
Full-Time Faculty
79%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,306
Student–Faculty Ratio
13:1
Diversity Index
0.35
First-Gen Students
24%
Applicants
6,625
Admitted
3,602

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 Ohio Northern University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Ohio Northern University is $39,800, 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 $24,478. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,525 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$39,800
Out-of-State
$39,800
Avg Net Price
$24,478
Median Debt
$27,000
Pell Grant Rate
21%
Federal Loan Rate
55%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$18,525
Family Income $30K–$48K
$19,223
Family Income $48K–$75K
$22,336
Family Income $110K+
$27,710

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 Ohio Northern University — 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 Ohio Northern University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $80,928, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$62,686
8 Years
$69,461
10 Years
$80,928
Debt-to-Earnings
0.33x
Earning > $25K
83%

Earnings Trajectory

$62,686 6yr $69,461 8yr $80,928 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (268)
59%
100% (268)
59%
100% (268)
59%
100% (268)
59%

How Ohio Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation75%Earnings 10yr$81KNet Price$24KRetention84%Median Debt$27KPell Grant Rate21%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$19K$0-30K$19K$30-48K$22K$48-75K$28K$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%3.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%52.1%MOBILITY1.58%

College ROI Calculator

Is Ohio Northern University Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Ohio Northern University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,478/year ($97,912 total). Graduates earn $80,928 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,266,327 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,168,415 (23.1× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 75% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$97,912
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,266,327
Net Return
$2,168,415
ROI Multiple
23.1×
Cost Per Year
$24,478
Median Debt
$27,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
75%

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 Ohio Northern University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Ohio Northern University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.58%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.58%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
52.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
3.0%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$124,045
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Ohio Northern 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 Ohio Northern University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.69
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.9%
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
$6,935,341
Investment Income
$5,794,228

Top Programs

The fields Ohio Northern 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.

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 Ohio Northern University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Ohio Northern University, located in Ada, Ohio, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,252. The graduation rate is roughly 75%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ohio Northern University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Ohio Northern University is $39,800, 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 $24,478. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,525 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

Is Ohio Northern University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $80,928, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Does Ohio Northern University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Ohio Northern University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.58%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Ohio Northern 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 Ohio Northern University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ohio Northern University.

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.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys