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University of Akron Main Campus

Public Akron, OH · Urban · Great Lakes · 100% data
B Selectivity B- Value C+ Earnings
Graduation Rate
50% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$46,600 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$13,946 C+
19% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
60% B
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +14% vs avg
Graduation -13% vs avg
Net Price +-19% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.7 over 20 years.

18.7× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $18.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $984,953.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Every $1 invested returns $18.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why University of Akron Main Campus Matters

University of Akron Main Campus is a public research university in Akron, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and 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
Public Research University
Carnegie Class
R2 · High Research
Enrollment
9,052
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Engineering, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Humanities

Why students choose University of Akron Main Campus

Research-intensive environment
Active labs and research-active faculty
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Engineering
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 41% overall
C+
Earnings
$46,600 median
B-
Value
3.3× net price
C+
Affordability
$13,946/yr net
C-
Graduation
50% graduate
B
Selectivity
60% admit rate
C-
Diversity
0.53 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With over 9,000 students, the University of Akron Main Campus is a solid choice for those looking to dive into fields like Engineering, Business, and Health Professions. The acceptance rate sits at 60%, making it accessible to a diverse range of applicants. What really stands out here is the variety of programs available, allowing students to explore their interests while also preparing for careers in growing industries.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $46,600 after ten years, which is a decent starting point for building a career. This earning potential suggests that graduates can often find stable employment in their chosen fields. The university's affordability is also notable; with a net price of about $13,946, it presents a reasonable option for students looking to minimize their financial burden.

When it comes to debt, the median loan amount stands at $23,250, which is manageable for many graduates, especially those who secure good jobs after finishing their studies. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who take advantage of the university’s strong programs and resources, actively engaging in their education and career planning. This is a place where hard work can lead to tangible rewards, both during and after college.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Akron Main Campus 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 University of Akron Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Akron, Ohio, University of Akron Main Campus offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,081. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.

Acceptance Rate
60%
Retention Rate
73%
SAT Average
1081
SAT Range
900–1190
ACT Range
17–25
Full-Time Faculty
50%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$10,255
Student–Faculty Ratio
16:1
Diversity Index
0.53
First-Gen Students
36%
Applicants
12,282
Admitted
10,178

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 University of Akron Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Akron Main Campus is $20,815, 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 $13,946. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,413 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$13,135
Out-of-State
$20,815
Avg Net Price
$13,946
Median Debt
$23,250
Pell Grant Rate
29%
Federal Loan Rate
32%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$10,413
Family Income $30K–$48K
$10,131
Family Income $48K–$75K
$13,519
Family Income $110K+
$20,226

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 University of Akron Main Campus — 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 University of Akron Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $46,600, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$42,269
8 Years
$43,166
10 Years
$46,600
Debt-to-Earnings
0.5x
Earning > $25K
62%

Earnings Trajectory

$42,269 6yr $43,166 8yr $46,600 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (122)
4%
100% (122)
4%
100% (122)
4%
100% (122)
4%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation50%Earnings 10yr$47KNet Price$14KRetention73%Median Debt$23KPell Grant Rate29%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$10K$0-30K$10K$30-48K$14K$48-75K$20K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Akron Main Campus Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, University of Akron Main Campus delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,946/year ($55,784 total). Graduates earn $46,600 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,040,737 in total earnings — a net gain of $984,953 (18.7× your investment). The median debt is $23,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$55,784
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,040,737
Net Return
$984,953
ROI Multiple
18.7×
Cost Per Year
$13,946
Median Debt
$23,250
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
50%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of Akron Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Akron Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 1.24, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.10). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.24
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.10
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.1%
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

Federal Grants
$9,681,918
Investment Income
$-25,756,689

Top Programs

The fields University of Akron Main Campus 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 University of Akron Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Akron, Ohio, University of Akron Main Campus offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,081. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Akron Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Akron Main Campus is $20,815, 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 $13,946. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,413 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.

Is University of Akron Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $46,600, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is University of Akron Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Akron Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 1.24, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.10). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Akron Main Campus.

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