Head-to-head comparison
Ashland University vs Ohio Dominican 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 Columbus, OH
Ohio Dominican University
- Net price / year
- $20,079
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,748
- Payback
- 23.7 yrs
Ashland University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $87,952 in 19.3 years versus 23.7 years at Ohio Dominican University, on median earnings of $52,928 vs $51,748 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ashland University | Ohio Dominican University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,988 | $20,079 |
| Total net cost | $87,952 | $80,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,928 | $51,748 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 19.3 yrs | 23.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $3,408 | -$12,556 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ashland University or Ohio Dominican University?
Ohio Dominican University, at $20,079 a year after aid versus $21,988 — a gap of $1,909 a year, or $7,636 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 Ohio Dominican University graduates earn more?
Ashland University graduates report a median $52,928 ten years after entry, $1,180 more than the $51,748 at Ohio Dominican 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 Ohio Dominican University?
Ashland University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Ohio Dominican University, a difference of $1,000. 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 41% at Ohio Dominican 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.