Students at the University of Mount Union benefit from a close-knit academic environment that supports reliable career outcomes and manageable debt repayment.
The university combines selective admissions with solid graduate earnings, particularly in engineering and business programs that lead to stable middle-class careers.
The University of Mount Union is a small private nonprofit college in Alliance, Ohio, serving about 2,200 students in a close-knit campus environment. As a selective institution classified as "Selective Achievers," Mount Union combines moderate access with solid outcomes for the students it enrolls. The university attracts about 29% Pell Grant recipients and 22% first-generation students, reflecting a student body that includes both middle-class and lower-income families seeking a private college experience.
Graduates earn a median of $53,217 ten years after enrollment, placing the university around the 57th percentile nationally for earnings outcomes. While this represents solid middle-class earning potential, it falls somewhat short of what similar students achieve at peer institutions. The university's strength lies in specific programs like Mechanical Engineering, where graduates earn around $69,338, and Digital Marketing, which combines strong enrollment with reliable career outcomes.
Mount Union offers the advantages of small class sizes, personalized faculty attention, and a traditional liberal arts college experience. For students who thrive in intimate academic settings and value campus community, the university provides a pathway to stable career outcomes, though families should expect to invest more upfront than they would at public alternatives.
The University of Mount Union's program portfolio reflects a traditional liberal arts college model with select professional programs that drive strong career outcomes. Mechanical Engineering stands out as the highest-earning field, with 26 graduates earning around $69,338 early in their careers, reflecting strong demand for technical skills in Ohio's manufacturing and industrial economy. This program represents Mount Union's ability to compete effectively in high-return STEM fields despite its small scale.
Digital Marketing emerges as the program with the highest aggregate return, combining solid enrollment of 42 graduates with reliable earnings around $44,418. This reflects the university's adaptation to modern business needs and the growing importance of digital skills across industries. Exercise Science and Kinesiology, as the largest program with 59 graduates, shows the university's strength in health-related fields, though early-career earnings of $25,194 are modest and often require additional certification or graduate study for career advancement.
The university's smaller program scale means fewer total graduates in each field compared to large universities, which can limit alumni network density but often provides more personalized faculty mentorship and career guidance. Students benefit from small class sizes and individualized attention, particularly valuable in technical fields like engineering where hands-on learning and faculty relationships can significantly impact career preparation and job placement success.
University of Mount Union graduates achieve solid middle-class earnings, with a median of $53,217 ten years after enrollment. However, these outcomes fall somewhat below what similar students earn at comparable institutions, with graduates earning about $9,511 less than expected based on their academic preparation and backgrounds. This gap suggests that while Mount Union provides reliable career preparation, students might find stronger financial returns at other institutions with similar selectivity and academic focus.
The university's return on investment varies significantly by program choice. Mechanical Engineering stands out with graduates earning around $69,338 early in their careers, reflecting strong demand for technical skills in Ohio's manufacturing economy. Digital Marketing, the program with the highest aggregate return, combines solid enrollment of 42 graduates with reliable earnings around $44,418. Exercise Science and Kinesiology represents the largest program with 59 graduates but shows more modest early-career earnings at $25,194, typical for health and fitness fields that often require additional certification or graduate study.
Mount Union's program portfolio reflects a traditional liberal arts college model with professional programs mixed in. The university's smaller scale means fewer total graduates in each field, which can limit alumni network density but often provides more personalized career guidance and faculty mentorship. Students considering Mount Union should weigh the value of small class sizes and individualized attention against the financial premium of private education and the somewhat lower earnings outcomes compared to similar institutions.
The University of Mount Union carries the typical cost structure of a small private college, with net prices that reflect significant institutional aid but still require substantial family investment. Low-income students pay about $18,754 annually after aid, while middle-income families see costs around $20,206 per year. Even high-income families receive some discount from the sticker price, paying approximately $25,238 annually. These prices place Mount Union in the lower portion of affordability compared to similar private institutions, though still well above public university alternatives.
The university's aid strategy appears designed to make private education accessible to a broader range of families, with relatively modest differences between income bands suggesting substantial merit aid or need-based support. However, the overall cost structure means most students need to borrow to cover expenses. Federal student loan debt averages $27,000 at graduation, a manageable level for graduates earning Mount Union's typical salaries, while Parent PLUS borrowing averages $25,314 for families who choose this option.
What makes Mount Union's costs sustainable is the combination of moderate debt levels and reliable graduate earnings. With median earnings around $53,217, most borrowers can handle standard 10-year repayment without significant strain. The university's loan repayment patterns show that graduates generally stay current on their obligations, with strong early repayment rates that exceed national averages, indicating that the debt-to-income balance works for most students despite the higher upfront investment.
University Of Mount Union Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
