Head-to-head comparison
Ohio State University-Main Campus vs Hobart Institute of Welding Technology: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbus, OH
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $17,339
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,409
- Payback
- 5.8 yrs
Option B Troy, OH
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
- Net price / year
- $21,409
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,955
- Payback
- 6.8 yrs
Ohio State University-Main Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $69,356 in 5.8 years versus 6.8 years at Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, on median earnings of $60,409 vs $60,955 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio State University-Main Campus | Hobart Institute of Welding Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,339 | $21,409 |
| Total net cost | $69,356 | $85,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,409 | $60,955 |
| Median debt | $19,976 | $5,500 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 6.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $171,624 | $166,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ohio State University-Main Campus or Hobart Institute of Welding Technology?
Ohio State University-Main Campus, at $17,339 a year after aid versus $21,409 — a gap of $4,070 a year, or $16,280 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-Main Campus or Hobart Institute of Welding Technology graduates earn more?
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology graduates report a median $60,955 ten years after entry, $546 more than the $60,409 at Ohio State University-Main 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-Main Campus or Hobart Institute of Welding Technology?
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $19,976 at Ohio State University-Main Campus, a difference of $14,476. 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?
90% of students finish at Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, against 88% at Ohio State University-Main 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.