Head-to-head comparison
Ohio State University-Main Campus vs University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: 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 Ann Arbor, MI
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Net price / year
- $13,138
- Earnings, 10 years
- $83,648
- Payback
- 1.5 yrs
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $52,552 in 1.5 years versus 5.8 years at Ohio State University-Main Campus, on median earnings of $83,648 vs $60,409 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohio State University-Main Campus | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,339 | $13,138 |
| Total net cost | $69,356 | $52,552 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,409 | $83,648 |
| Median debt | $19,976 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 1.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $171,624 | $653,208 |
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 Michigan-Ann Arbor?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, at $13,138 a year after aid versus $17,339 — a gap of $4,201 a year, or $16,804 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 Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates earn more?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates report a median $83,648 ten years after entry, $23,239 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 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $19,976 at Ohio State University-Main Campus, a difference of $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?
93% of students finish at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 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.