Head-to-head comparison
Ohio State University-Main Campus vs University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash 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 Blue Ash, OH
University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College
- Net price / year
- $16,508
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,810
- Payback
- 5.1 yrs
University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $33,016 in 5.1 years versus 5.8 years at Ohio State University-Main Campus, on median earnings of $54,810 vs $60,409 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio State University-Main Campus | University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,339 | $16,508 |
| Total net cost | $69,356 | $33,016 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,409 | $54,810 |
| Median debt | $19,976 | $21,250 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 5.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $171,624 | $95,984 |
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 University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College?
University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College, at $16,508 a year after aid versus $17,339 — a gap of $831 a year, or $36,340 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 University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College graduates earn more?
Ohio State University-Main Campus graduates report a median $60,409 ten years after entry, $5,599 more than the $54,810 at University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College. 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 University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College?
Ohio State University-Main Campus: its completers carry a median $19,976 in federal loans versus $21,250 at University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College, a difference of $1,274. 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 16% at University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash 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.