Head-to-head comparison
Ohio State University-Main Campus vs Kenyon College: 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 Gambier, OH
Kenyon College
- Net price / year
- $38,512
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,830
- Payback
- 6.6 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 6.6 years at Kenyon College, on median earnings of $60,409 vs $71,830 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio State University-Main Campus | Kenyon College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,339 | $38,512 |
| Total net cost | $69,356 | $154,048 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,409 | $71,830 |
| Median debt | $19,976 | $18,527 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 6.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $171,624 | $315,352 |
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 Kenyon College?
Ohio State University-Main Campus, at $17,339 a year after aid versus $38,512 — a gap of $21,173 a year, or $84,692 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 Kenyon College graduates earn more?
Kenyon College graduates report a median $71,830 ten years after entry, $11,421 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 Kenyon College?
Kenyon College: its completers carry a median $18,527 in federal loans versus $19,976 at Ohio State University-Main Campus, a difference of $1,449. 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?
88% of students finish at Ohio State University-Main Campus, against 82% at Kenyon College. 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.