Head-to-head comparison
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus vs Cleveland State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Cincinnati, OH
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $25,648
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,810
- Payback
- 15.9 yrs
Option B Cleveland, OH
Cleveland State University
- Net price / year
- $14,764
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,131
- Payback
- 15.7 yrs
Cleveland State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $59,056 in 15.7 years versus 15.9 years at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, on median earnings of $52,131 vs $54,810 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Cleveland State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,648 | $14,764 |
| Total net cost | $102,592 | $59,056 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,810 | $52,131 |
| Median debt | $21,250 | $21,797 |
| Payback | 15.9 yrs | 15.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $26,408 | $16,364 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus or Cleveland State University?
Cleveland State University, at $14,764 a year after aid versus $25,648 — a gap of $10,884 a year, or $43,536 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 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus or Cleveland State University graduates earn more?
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus graduates report a median $54,810 ten years after entry, $2,679 more than the $52,131 at Cleveland State University. 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, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus or Cleveland State University?
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus: its completers carry a median $21,250 in federal loans versus $21,797 at Cleveland State University, a difference of $547. 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?
75% of students finish at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, against 51% at Cleveland State University. 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.