Head-to-head comparison
Ohio Northern University vs Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Ada, OH
Ohio Northern University
- Net price / year
- $24,478
- Earnings, 10 years
- $80,928
- Payback
- 3 yrs
Option B Wooster, OH
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
- Net price / year
- $17,809
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,409
- Payback
- 3 yrs
Ohio Northern University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,912 in 3 years versus 3 years at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, on median earnings of $80,928 vs $60,409 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio Northern University | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,478 | $17,809 |
| Total net cost | $97,912 | $35,618 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,928 | $60,409 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $19,976 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $553,448 | $205,362 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ohio Northern University or Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute?
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, at $17,809 a year after aid versus $24,478 — a gap of $6,669 a year, or $62,294 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 Ohio Northern University or Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute graduates earn more?
Ohio Northern University graduates report a median $80,928 ten years after entry, $20,519 more than the $60,409 at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute. 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, Ohio Northern University or Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute?
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute: its completers carry a median $19,976 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Ohio Northern University, a difference of $7,024. 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?
75% of students finish at Ohio Northern University, against 43% at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute. 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.