Head-to-head comparison
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus vs Kent State University at Kent: 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 Kent, OH
Kent State University at Kent
- Net price / year
- $20,787
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,388
- Payback
- No payback
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $102,592 in 15.9 years versus not at all at Kent State University at Kent, on median earnings of $54,810 vs $45,388 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Kent State University at Kent |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,648 | $20,787 |
| Total net cost | $102,592 | $83,148 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,810 | $45,388 |
| Median debt | $21,250 | $24,500 |
| Payback | 15.9 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $26,408 | -$142,588 |
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 Kent State University at Kent?
Kent State University at Kent, at $20,787 a year after aid versus $25,648 — a gap of $4,861 a year, or $19,444 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 Kent State University at Kent graduates earn more?
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus graduates report a median $54,810 ten years after entry, $9,422 more than the $45,388 at Kent State University at Kent. 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 Kent State University at Kent?
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus: its completers carry a median $21,250 in federal loans versus $24,500 at Kent State University at Kent, a difference of $3,250. 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 64% at Kent State University at Kent. 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.