The University of Rio Grande provides educational access for students who are often the first in their families to attend college, serving an important role in rural Ohio's higher education landscape.
While earnings outcomes are modest, the institution offers the close-knit community and personal support that can be crucial for student success.
The University of Rio Grande is a small private nonprofit institution in rural Ohio that serves a substantial population of first-generation and Pell-eligible students. With more than half of students being first-generation college attendees and about 36% receiving Pell Grants, Rio Grande provides access to higher education for students who might not otherwise attend college. The university operates in the "Under-Resourced Institutions" mobility category, reflecting both its commitment to serving underrepresented populations and the financial challenges that come with that mission.
Graduates earn a median of $41,478 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the lower quartile nationally for long-term earnings outcomes. While these earnings are modest compared to larger research universities, they represent meaningful economic progress for many students who are the first in their families to attend college. The university's small size allows for personalized attention and support, though this comes with higher net prices typical of private institutions.
For students who value community, personal relationships with faculty, and a supportive environment over maximum earning potential, Rio Grande offers a pathway to degree completion in a setting designed around individual student success rather than large-scale research or prestige.
The University of Rio Grande's program portfolio is limited but includes one standout area: nursing. The Adult Health Nursing program graduates about 24 students annually and represents the institution's clearest pathway to strong earnings, with graduates earning around $68,499 ten years after completion. This program benefits from healthcare's stable job market and the personalized training possible at a small institution.
Beyond nursing, Rio Grande's program offerings reflect the needs of a small private college serving rural Ohio. While the university lacks the program diversity of larger institutions, this focused approach allows for close faculty-student relationships and individualized attention in each field of study. The limited program scale means fewer total graduates across all majors, but those who do complete degrees often benefit from the tight-knit academic community.
As a small institution, Rio Grande graduates modest cohorts each year, which affects alumni network density but allows for more personalized career guidance and support. Students considering Rio Grande should focus on whether their intended field of study aligns with the university's limited but supportive program offerings.
Graduates of the University of Rio Grande see modest but meaningful long-term earnings, with a median income of $41,478 ten years after enrollment. These outcomes place the institution in the lower quartile nationally for earnings, reflecting both the rural Ohio job market and the university's focus on serving students who might not otherwise attend college. While earnings are below national averages for four-year institutions, they represent significant economic advancement for many first-generation college students and their families.
The university's strongest financial outcomes come from its nursing program, which graduates about 24 students annually with median earnings around $68,499 ten years out. This Adult Health Nursing program represents Rio Grande's most successful pathway to higher earnings, combining healthcare's stable job market with the personalized training possible at a small institution. However, with limited program diversity compared to larger universities, students have fewer high-earning major options, which contributes to the institution's overall modest earnings profile.
For students entering Rio Grande, the financial return is best understood as steady employment and middle-class stability rather than high earnings potential. The rural Ohio location means graduates often work in regional markets where cost of living is lower, though this also limits access to the highest-paying metropolitan job opportunities.
Affordability at the University of Rio Grande reflects the typical cost structure of a small private college, with net prices that are challenging for most families. Low-income students pay about $26,495 annually after aid, while middle-income families face costs around $30,154 per year, and higher-income families pay approximately $31,973. These prices place Rio Grande in the bottom 10% nationally for affordability, making it significantly more expensive than most public alternatives.
Despite the high sticker prices, the university does provide some financial aid to help offset costs. The relatively modest difference between net prices across income levels suggests that aid is distributed fairly evenly, though the absolute amounts remain substantial for most families. Students typically graduate with about $17,750 in federal loan debt, a manageable level given the institution's focus on degree completion, while families who use Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $13,760.
The affordability challenge at Rio Grande is typical of small private colleges: higher per-student costs due to small scale, combined with limited endowment resources to provide substantial aid. Families considering Rio Grande need to weigh the benefits of small class sizes and personal attention against the financial reality of private college pricing in a region where public alternatives offer much lower net costs.
University Of Rio Grande Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
