Lima, Ohio Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Lima, Ohio: median public in-state tuition $12,198 (+114.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $67,080 (+12.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 94.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $12,479 (-7.6% vs U.S.) 5,370 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Lima serve students across Ohio with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 6 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,370 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $12,198. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Lima, Ohio and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Lima 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima, Ohio | $12,198 | $9,819 | $12,479 | 26.6% | 5,370 |
| Ohio (state median) | $7,709 | $10,728 | $14,568 | 44.0% | 429,089 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Lima, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima, Ohio | $67,080 | 94.7% | 42.3% | 4.9% | — | 74.7% | 0.29 |
| Ohio (state median) | $58,937 | 93.9% | 74.1% | 5.6% | — | 73.0% | 0.41 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima, Ohio | $12,198 | $9,819 | $12,479 | 26.6% | 5,370 | $67,080 | 94.7% |
| Columbus | $20,845 | $25,448 | $12,060 | 50.4% | 79,719 | $58,186 | 93.8% |
| Columbus | $20,845 | $25,448 | $12,060 | 50.4% | 79,719 | $58,186 | 93.8% |
| Columbus | $20,845 | $25,448 | $12,060 | 50.4% | 79,719 | $58,186 | 93.8% |
| Cincinnati | $17,318 | $21,492 | $17,236 | 53.8% | 45,270 | $60,832 | 94.9% |
| Cleveland | $33,338 | $25,574 | $15,599 | 61.9% | 31,334 | $56,979 | 92.2% |
| Cleveland | $33,338 | $25,574 | $15,599 | 61.9% | 31,334 | $56,979 | 92.2% |
| Dayton | $15,446 | $16,307 | $13,458 | 42.9% | 28,536 | $68,636 | 95.4% |
| Dayton | $15,446 | $16,307 | $13,458 | 42.9% | 28,536 | $68,636 | 95.4% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
Top college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 23.9%, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Top college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 94.7%, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Top college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $51,410, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Top college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $65,374, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Top college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $56,889, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Top college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $63,042, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Top college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $67,080, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Top college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $250,408, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Most affordable college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, Net Price, $12,326, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Top college in Lima, 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.
-
Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 42.3%, Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
In-state tuition: Lima, Ohio vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Lima, Ohio median in-state tuition is $12,198, +114.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Lima, Ohio vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Lima, Ohio is $12,479 (-7.6% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $14,568.
Median earnings (10 years out): Lima, Ohio vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Lima, Ohio center around $67,080 (+12.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Lima, Ohio vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 94.7% at the median Lima, Ohio campus (+1.7 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
Lima, Ohio median public in-state tuition is $12,198, about +114.0% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +112.4%.
Median graduate debt is $12,479 (-7.6% below the U.S. median of $13,500). 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 Lima, Ohio are $67,080, about +12.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 94.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (+1.7 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 42.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 74.7% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Ohio State University-Lima Campus (94.7%)—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 Lima, Ohio is 26.6% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Lima?
This city profile covers 6 campuses in Lima, Ohio with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Lima?
Median in-state tuition in Lima is $12,198 and median net price is $9,819. For Ohio overall, medians are $7,709 and $10,728; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Lima?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lima is $67,080 vs $58,937 for Ohio and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Lima colleges?
Median completer debt in Lima is $12,479 vs $14,568 for Ohio and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Lima?
Top campuses on this page include Ohio State University-Lima Campus (graduation) and Ohio State University-Lima Campus (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lima?
Among 6 College Scorecard campuses in Lima, Ohio, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, none report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, and none report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Ohio college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON