Head-to-head comparison
University of Dayton vs Ohio State University-Lima Campus: which has better ROI?
Option A Dayton, OH
University of Dayton
- Net price / year
- $29,533
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,537
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
Option B Lima, OH
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
- Net price / year
- $12,940
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,409
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
University of Dayton has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,132 in 4.3 years versus 4.3 years at Ohio State University-Lima Campus, on median earnings of $75,537 vs $60,409 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Dayton | Ohio State University-Lima Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,533 | $12,940 |
| Total net cost | $118,132 | $51,760 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,537 | $60,409 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $19,976 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | 4.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $425,408 | $189,220 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Dayton or Ohio State University-Lima Campus?
Ohio State University-Lima Campus, at $12,940 a year after aid versus $29,533 — a gap of $16,593 a year, or $66,372 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 Dayton or Ohio State University-Lima Campus graduates earn more?
University of Dayton graduates report a median $75,537 ten years after entry, $15,128 more than the $60,409 at Ohio State University-Lima 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, University of Dayton or Ohio State University-Lima Campus?
Ohio State University-Lima Campus: its completers carry a median $19,976 in federal loans versus $23,250 at University of Dayton, a difference of $3,274. 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?
80% of students finish at University of Dayton, against 23% at Ohio State University-Lima 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.