Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Ohio Northern University #878 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,864 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 72.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Ohio Northern University #412 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Ohio Northern University #878 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 40.8 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university located in Ada, Ohio, Ohio Northern University enrolls roughly 2,489 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 84.3% freshman retention rate and a 75.5% six-year graduation rate. Ohio Northern University performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Ohio Northern University #412 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 72.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $72,080, placing Ohio Northern University in the 73.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's engineering-focused program portfolio — with Engineering as the dominant concentration — aligns with strong labor-market demand and contributes to solid early-career outcomes. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Ohio Northern University sits in the 27.9 percentile for access and the 24.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. These positions reflect the institution's smaller undergraduate enrollment and higher sticker price relative to public alternatives, though need-based aid reshapes net cost for families that qualify. Mobility outcomes — measured by how well low-income graduates fare relative to peers at comparable institutions — place the institution in the 38.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Ohio Northern University's published cost of attendance is $53,580. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $18,525, middle-income families pay around $22,336, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,710. Azimuth ranks Ohio Northern University #1075 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $32,246; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $72,080, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Ohio Northern University is a strong fit for students interested in engineering and applied fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in OH. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $72,080, placing Ohio Northern University in the 73.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $3,864 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 72.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 20.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 23.6% are first-generation. For these students, the published cost of attendance is $27,710, with median federal debt at graduation of $27,000. Fit depends on academic interests aligning with Engineering (25% of degrees) and similar applied fields. Students pursuing these areas will find the strongest outcomes at this private university.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Ohio Northern University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brenau University Similar quality tier (#24820 ranked) | GA | 88% | $54,003 | #24820 | Compare |
Marymount University Similar quality tier (#24819 ranked) | VA | 93% | $67,516 | #24819 | Compare |
Thomas More University Similar quality tier (#24818 ranked) | KY | 90% | $59,384 | #24818 | Compare |
York College Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier (#24817 ranked) | PA | 74% | $61,012 | #24817 | Compare |
Centenary University Similar quality tier (#24827 ranked) | NJ | 83% | $53,726 | #24827 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Ohio Northern University's published cost of attendance is $53,580. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $18,525, middle-income families pay around $22,336, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,710.
Azimuth ranks Ohio Northern University #1075 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $32,246; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $72,080, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Ohio Northern University earn median 4-year earnings of $72,080, placing Ohio Northern University in the 73.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,864 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ohio Northern University in the 72.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Ohio Northern University #412 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings trajectory reflects strong early-career outcomes anchored in the institution's engineering-focused program portfolio, where graduates move quickly into technical and professional roles with sustained salary growth.
Engineering dominates Ohio Northern University's degree output and drives the institution's return profile. Mechanical Engineering is the largest program with 67 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $85,802, representing 0.9× the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Biology, General and Accounting follow as substantial cohorts with 23 graduates in the latter earning $84,916 and 1.1× the national benchmark. The Nursing program graduates 22 students earning $83,157, while Civil Engineering with 19 graduates earns $79,673 — 0.9× the national benchmark.
This concentration in applied technical fields, where employer demand remains strong and starting salaries are competitive, explains why Ohio Northern University delivers consistent long-term financial outcomes for its graduates.
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
17 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
67 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
23 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
22 graduates
Civil Engineering
19 graduates
Ohio Northern University's program mix is anchored in engineering and applied professional fields—a signature shaped by the institution's identity as a private engineering-focused university. Mechanical Engineering is the largest program with 67 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Accounting, Nursing, and Civil Engineering.
Engineering represents a substantial share of the institution's degree output, reflecting Ohio Northern's core academic identity and employer alignment in the region. The institution's highest-earning programs cluster in engineering and technical fields.
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians leads with median earnings of $89,697 four years after enrollment across 17 graduates, followed by Mechanical Engineering with $85,802 and Accounting with $84,916. These programs reflect Azimuth's [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) methodology, which weights both earnings and cohort scale.
Nursing and Civil Engineering round out the earnings leaders, demonstrating consistent strength across the engineering portfolio. The concentration in Engineering and related applied fields positions Ohio Northern graduates for direct entry into the workforce in high-demand sectors.
These are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter regional and national labor markets immediately after completion, and four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with current and projected workforce demand in manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology sectors.
