Head-to-head comparison
Mount St. Joseph University vs Ohio Dominican University: which has better ROI?
Option A Cincinnati, OH
Mount St. Joseph University
- Net price / year
- $16,530
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,509
- Payback
- 21 yrs
Option B Columbus, OH
Ohio Dominican University
- Net price / year
- $20,079
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,748
- Payback
- 23.7 yrs
Mount St. Joseph University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $66,120 in 21 years versus 23.7 years at Ohio Dominican University, on median earnings of $51,509 vs $51,748 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mount St. Joseph University | Ohio Dominican University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,530 | $20,079 |
| Total net cost | $66,120 | $80,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,509 | $51,748 |
| Median debt | $26,827 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 21 yrs | 23.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$3,140 | -$12,556 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mount St. Joseph University or Ohio Dominican University?
Mount St. Joseph University, at $16,530 a year after aid versus $20,079 — a gap of $3,549 a year, or $14,196 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 Mount St. Joseph University or Ohio Dominican University graduates earn more?
Ohio Dominican University graduates report a median $51,748 ten years after entry, $239 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, Mount St. Joseph University or Ohio Dominican University?
Ohio Dominican University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,827 at Mount St. Joseph University, a difference of $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?
56% of students finish at Mount St. Joseph 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.