Head-to-head comparison
Ashland University vs Mount St. Joseph University: which has better ROI?
Option A Ashland, OH
Ashland University
- Net price / year
- $21,988
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,928
- Payback
- 19.3 yrs
Option B Cincinnati, OH
Mount St. Joseph University
- Net price / year
- $16,530
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,509
- Payback
- 21 yrs
Ashland University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,952 in 19.3 years versus 21 years at Mount St. Joseph University, on median earnings of $52,928 vs $51,509 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ashland University | Mount St. Joseph University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,988 | $16,530 |
| Total net cost | $87,952 | $66,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,928 | $51,509 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,827 |
| Payback | 19.3 yrs | 21 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $3,408 | -$3,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ashland University or Mount St. Joseph University?
Mount St. Joseph University, at $16,530 a year after aid versus $21,988 — a gap of $5,458 a year, or $21,832 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Ashland University or Mount St. Joseph University graduates earn more?
Ashland University graduates report a median $52,928 ten years after entry, $1,419 more than the $51,509 at Mount St. Joseph University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Ashland University or Mount St. Joseph University?
Ashland University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,827 at Mount St. Joseph University, a difference of $1,827. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
61% of students finish at Ashland University, against 56% at Mount St. Joseph University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.