Dayton, Ohio Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Dayton, Ohio shows: median public in-state tuition $14,822 (+168.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $62,518 (+15.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $12,403 (-7.7% vs U.S.) 28,536 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 8 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 28,536 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $14,822 (+168.9% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $62,518 (+15.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 92.4% (+4.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $15,415 (+54.7% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $12,403 (-7.7% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 41.7%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 78.5%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Dayton, Ohio—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Ohio and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Dayton vs Ohio & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton, Ohio | $14,822 | $15,415 | $12,403 | 41.7% | 28,536 |
| Ohio (state median) | $7,491 | $12,090 | $14,004 | 46.4% | 429,559 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Dayton, Ohio vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton, Ohio | $62,518 | 92.4% | 78.5% | 4.0% | — | 80.8% | 0.38 |
| Ohio (state median) | $52,581 | 91.0% | 73.7% | 5.6% | — | 71.4% | 0.47 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Ohio (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton, Ohio | $14,822 | $15,415 | $12,403 | 41.7% | 28,536 | $62,518 | 92.4% |
| Columbus | $21,028 | $23,812 | $15,292 | 47.4% | 79,970 | $53,018 | 89.9% |
| Columbus | $21,028 | $23,812 | $15,292 | 47.4% | 79,970 | $53,018 | 89.9% |
| Cincinnati | $16,836 | $20,018 | $14,858 | 56.7% | 45,270 | $54,810 | 91.2% |
| Cleveland | $32,638 | $25,956 | $17,534 | 64.9% | 31,334 | $52,131 | 85.9% |
| Cleveland | $32,638 | $25,956 | $17,534 | 64.9% | 31,334 | $52,131 | 85.9% |
| Toledo | $16,800 | $17,989 | $17,477 | 55.8% | 11,785 | $58,020 | 93.4% |
| North Canton | $7,492 | $10,897 | $24,500 | 47.6% | 9,831 | $59,764 | 95.7% |
| Akron | $13,292 | $13,946 | $22,375 | 35.4% | 9,482 | $46,600 | 89.7% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Dayton, Ohio by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 80.2%, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 41.7%, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
Top 10 colleges in Dayton, Ohio by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 94.1%, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 90.8%, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
Top 10 most selective colleges in Dayton, Ohio (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 65.5%, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 96.3%, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
Top 10 colleges in Dayton, Ohio by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $79,865, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,345, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
Top 10 colleges in Dayton, Ohio by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $116,356, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $97,659, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
Top 10 colleges in Dayton, Ohio by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $62,477, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,229, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
Top 10 colleges in Dayton, Ohio by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $69,652, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,058, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
Top 10 colleges in Dayton, Ohio by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $75,537, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $49,500, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
Top 10 colleges in Dayton, Ohio by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $190,145, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $153,630, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Dayton, Ohio (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $15,415, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
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Rank 2, Net Price, $29,533, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
Top 10 colleges in Dayton, Ohio by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 89.1%, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 67.9%, Wright State University-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
In-state tuition: Dayton, Ohio vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Dayton, Ohio median in-state tuition is $14,822, +168.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Dayton, Ohio vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Dayton, Ohio is $12,403 (-7.7% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Dayton, Ohio vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Dayton, Ohio center around $62,518 (+15.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Dayton, Ohio vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.4% at the median Dayton, Ohio campus (+4.5 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Dayton, Ohio median public in-state tuition is $14,822, about +168.9% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +163.5%.
Median graduate debt is $12,403 (-7.7% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Dayton, Ohio are $62,518, about +15.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 92.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+4.5 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 78.5% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 80.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Dayton (94.1%), Wright State University-Main Campus (90.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Dayton, Ohio is 41.7% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Dayton?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 8 campuses in Dayton, Ohio with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Dayton?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Dayton is $14,822 and median net price is $15,415. For Ohio overall, medians are $7,491 and $12,090; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Dayton?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Dayton is $62,518 vs $52,581 for Ohio and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Dayton colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Dayton is $12,403 vs $14,004 for Ohio and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Dayton?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include University of Dayton (graduation) and University of Dayton (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Dayton?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 8 campuses in Dayton, Ohio, 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1), United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- Ohio college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON