Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Otterbein University #1080 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,068, placing Otterbein University in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Otterbein University #830 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Otterbein University #1080 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Westerville, Ohio, Otterbein University enrolls roughly 2,157 undergraduates. Retention stands at 79.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 67.9%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts-focused institution. Otterbein University performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Otterbein University #830 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,727 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Otterbein University in the 46.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in health-related fields — its dominant program family — aligns with stable, well-compensated career pathways that support long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability anchor the composite at lower percentiles. Otterbein University sits in the 39.1 percentile for access and the 38.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 30.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.1% are first-generation college students, reflecting a selective admissions posture typical of private master's institutions. Mobility outcomes sit in the 13.4 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's low-income student population and career-mobility patterns lag behind peer leaders in economic-mobility metrics.
Otterbein University's published cost of attendance is $48,321. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,458, middle-income families pay around $16,478, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,620. Azimuth ranks Otterbein University #880 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. Otterbein participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure aims to meet demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,500; 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 $58,068, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Otterbein University is a strong fit for students interested in health-related fields who want a private university experience in OH. Its program mix leans heavily toward Health, with 14% of graduates concentrated in this area. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,068, placing Otterbein University in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $2,727 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Otterbein University in the 46.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 30.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.1% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $24,620, with need-based aid available to help close the gap for qualifying families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 84.5% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors health-oriented fields over others. Students whose interests align with these areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Otterbein University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
59 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
26 graduates
Systems Engineering
7 graduates
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
26 graduates
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
25 graduates
Otterbein University's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied professional fields. Nursing is the largest program with 59 graduates, followed by Teacher Education, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, Business Administration, and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
The institution's dominant concentration in Health reflects its positioning as a career-focused private university serving students seeking direct pathways into healthcare and related professions. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health and applied-professional fields.
Nursing graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $80,188 with 59 graduates, while Business Administration delivers median earnings of $70,328. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication round out the highest-earning programs, with graduates earning $62,364 and $58,065 respectively four years after enrollment.
These outcomes reflect the institution's strength in fields where employers recruit actively and credential requirements support stable career progression. Several of these programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect national labor-market outcomes in healthcare and applied business fields.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Otterbein University's dominant program families align with labor-market demand in healthcare and professional services sectors.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Otterbein University's published cost of attendance is $48,321. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,458, middle-income families pay around $16,478, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,620.
Azimuth ranks Otterbein University #880 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.
Otterbein participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure aims to meet demonstrated financial need for admitted students.
Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,500; 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 $58,068, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 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 Otterbein University earn median 4-year earnings of $58,068, placing Otterbein University in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,727 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Otterbein University in the 46.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Otterbein University #830 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Otterbein University's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 59 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $80,188, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Teacher Education program graduates 28 students earning $47,383 four years after enrollment, while Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Business Administration round out the institution's primary program portfolio with four-year earnings of $62,364 and $70,328 respectively.
This program mix — anchored in Health — drives consistent outcomes across Otterbein University's graduate cohort and supports long-term career stability in fields with sustained employer demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fisk University Similar quality tier (#29470 ranked) | TN | 37% | $45,454 | #29470 | Compare |
Ottawa University-Surprise Similar quality tier (#29464 ranked) | AZ | 78% | $55,552 | #29464 | Compare |
Manchester University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#29463 ranked) | IN | 71% | $51,504 | #29463 | Compare |
Southern Wesleyan University Similar quality tier (#29462 ranked) | SC | 100% | $47,756 | #29462 | Compare |
Rocky Mountain College Similar quality tier (#29477 ranked) | MT | 70% | $49,036 | #29477 | Compare |
