Head-to-head comparison
Ohio State University-Main Campus vs Miami University-Hamilton: 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 Hamilton, OH
Miami University-Hamilton
- Net price / year
- $11,286
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,076
- Payback
- 6.7 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 6.7 years at Miami University-Hamilton, on median earnings of $60,409 vs $55,076 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio State University-Main Campus | Miami University-Hamilton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,339 | $11,286 |
| Total net cost | $69,356 | $45,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,409 | $55,076 |
| Median debt | $19,976 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 6.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $171,624 | $89,176 |
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 Miami University-Hamilton?
Miami University-Hamilton, at $11,286 a year after aid versus $17,339 — a gap of $6,053 a year, or $24,212 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 Miami University-Hamilton graduates earn more?
Ohio State University-Main Campus graduates report a median $60,409 ten years after entry, $5,333 more than the $55,076 at Miami University-Hamilton. 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 Miami University-Hamilton?
Ohio State University-Main Campus: its completers carry a median $19,976 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Miami University-Hamilton, a difference of $3,024. 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?
88% of students finish at Ohio State University-Main Campus, against 25% at Miami University-Hamilton. 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.