Head-to-head comparison
Ohio State University-Lima Campus vs Kettering College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lima, OH
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
- Net price / year
- $12,940
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,409
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
Option B Kettering, OH
Kettering College
- Net price / year
- $21,650
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,492
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Ohio State University-Lima Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $51,760 in 4.3 years versus 4.5 years at Kettering College, on median earnings of $60,409 vs $67,492 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio State University-Lima Campus | Kettering College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,940 | $21,650 |
| Total net cost | $51,760 | $86,600 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,409 | $67,492 |
| Median debt | $19,976 | $23,500 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $189,220 | $296,040 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ohio State University-Lima Campus or Kettering College?
Ohio State University-Lima Campus, at $12,940 a year after aid versus $21,650 — a gap of $8,710 a year, or $34,840 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 State University-Lima Campus or Kettering College graduates earn more?
Kettering College graduates report a median $67,492 ten years after entry, $7,083 more than the $60,409 at Ohio State University-Lima Campus. 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 State University-Lima Campus or Kettering College?
Ohio State University-Lima Campus: its completers carry a median $19,976 in federal loans versus $23,500 at Kettering College, a difference of $3,524. 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?
65% of students finish at Kettering College, against 23% at Ohio State University-Lima Campus. 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.