Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Shawnee State University #717 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,959 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shawnee State University in the 66.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Shawnee State University #1091 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Shawnee State University #717 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Portsmouth, Ohio, Shawnee State University enrolls roughly 2,247 undergraduates. Retention is 72.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.1%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. What anchors Shawnee State University's composite is mobility and access. Azimuth ranks Shawnee State University #1015 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,959 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shawnee State University in the 66.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution serves a broad student population: 38.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 43.3% are first-generation college students. This access-forward profile, combined with outcomes that exceed what comparable institutions achieve for similar students, positions Shawnee State University as a meaningful option for students seeking both affordability and upward economic mobility. The institution's academic portfolio centers on Health fields, which align with stable, in-demand careers in the regional labor market. For students prioritizing long-term financial security alongside broad access and manageable cost, Shawnee State University delivers a straightforward value proposition: clear pathways to degree completion, earnings that outperform peer expectations, and a student body that reflects Ohio's economic and demographic diversity.
Shawnee State University's published cost of attendance is $21,974. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $12,310, middle-income families pay around $14,326, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,754. Azimuth ranks Shawnee State University #371 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. Shawnee State's aid structure is need-based, with aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. The institution participates in federal work-study, and families apply using the FAFSA. The gap between published cost and net price can be substantial, particularly for lower-income students — a dynamic worth understanding when comparing sticker price across institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,000. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,129, median federal debt of $23,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $260 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Shawnee State's lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $39,215 would tighten the monthly slack considerably — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios and detailed affordability planning, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Shawnee State University is a strong fit for students seeking a public university in OH with a health-focused program mix — about 11% of graduates complete degrees in Health fields. The university provides accessible pathways to stable careers in regional healthcare and social services. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,129, placing Shawnee State University in the 10.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,959 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 66.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 38.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 43.3% are first-generation. These students graduate at rates comparable to national averages, with 28.3% of Pell recipients completing their degrees. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix favors health and social services fields over STEM or business, and the regional job market supports stable but moderate earnings growth rather than high-mobility career trajectories. Students aligned with these fields and regional opportunities will find predictable 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
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Shawnee State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Shawnee State University's published cost of attendance is $21,974. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $12,310, middle-income families pay around $14,326, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,754.
Azimuth ranks Shawnee State University #371 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.
Shawnee State's aid structure is need-based, with aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. The institution participates in federal work-study, and families apply using the FAFSA.
The gap between published cost and net price can be substantial, particularly for lower-income students — a dynamic worth understanding when comparing sticker price across institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,000.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,129, median federal debt of $23,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $260 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Shawnee State's lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $39,215 would tighten the monthly slack considerably — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios and detailed affordability planning, use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Shawnee State University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,129, placing Shawnee State University in the 10.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $1,959 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shawnee State University in the 66.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes represent lifetime returns relative to OH's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern centers on health and applied professional fields. Health Administration is the largest program with 65 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $55,703, at 0.9× the national benchmark for the field.
Biology, General and Nursing follow as substantial enrollment clusters, with Nursing graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $78,624 at 0.9× benchmark. Fine and Studio Arts and Special Education and Teaching round out the top five, with Fine and Studio Arts graduates earning $34,215 and Special Education and Teaching graduates earning $44,143.
The concentration in Health — anchoring roughly 11% of degrees — reflects the institution's regional labor-market alignment and employer partnerships in healthcare and applied trades.
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
16 graduates
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
18 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
30 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
15 graduates
Health and Medical Administrative Services
65 graduates
Shawnee State University's program mix is anchored in health sciences and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university serving southeastern Ohio. Health Administration is the largest program with 65 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Nursing, Fine and Studio Arts, and Special Education and Teaching.
Across 23 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength concentrated in health-related and business-applied fields. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's health-sciences focus.
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians leads with median 4-year earnings of $81,446 from 18 graduates, followed by Nursing earning $78,624 and Health Administration earning $55,703. Kinesiology and Business Administration round out the highest-earning cohorts.
These programs align with regional labor-market demand in healthcare, nursing, and related allied-health fields where employer recruitment remains steady and wage growth is supported by aging demographics and healthcare sector expansion. Several of these programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes—particularly nursing and allied-health programs where licensure and certification create direct employment pipelines.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Shawnee State University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in healthcare and related sectors.
