Head-to-head comparison
Ohio State University-Lima Campus vs Ohio University-Eastern Campus: 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 Saint Clairsville, OH
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
- Net price / year
- $3,925
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,581
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Ohio University-Eastern Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $15,700 in 3.7 years versus 4.3 years at Ohio State University-Lima Campus, on median earnings of $52,581 vs $60,409 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio State University-Lima Campus | Ohio University-Eastern Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,940 | $3,925 |
| Total net cost | $51,760 | $15,700 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,409 | $52,581 |
| Median debt | $19,976 | $21,056 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $189,220 | $68,720 |
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 Ohio University-Eastern Campus?
Ohio University-Eastern Campus, at $3,925 a year after aid versus $12,940 — a gap of $9,015 a year, or $36,060 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 Ohio University-Eastern Campus graduates earn more?
Ohio State University-Lima Campus graduates report a median $60,409 ten years after entry, $7,828 more than the $52,581 at Ohio University-Eastern 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 Ohio University-Eastern Campus?
Ohio State University-Lima Campus: its completers carry a median $19,976 in federal loans versus $21,056 at Ohio University-Eastern Campus, a difference of $1,080. 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?
23% of students finish at Ohio State University-Lima Campus, against 21% at Ohio University-Eastern 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.