Franklin University
Columbus, OH 43215-5399
About Franklin University
Franklin University is a private research university in Columbus, Ohio, serving roughly 5,562 students. Franklin University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $9,577 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $51,892 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Franklin University charges about 0.3× the national private non-profit median tuition ($9,577).
- Versus the Ohio median, sticker tuition is 37% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 11.11%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $51,892.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Franklin University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 414% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin University | $9,577 | $25,243 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Ohio (state median) | $15,202 | $12,090 | 154 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Franklin University really?
Key findings
- Franklin University charges about 0.3× the national private non-profit median tuition ($9,577).
- Versus the Ohio median, sticker tuition is 37% below.
Franklin University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $9,577
Finding Franklin University charges about 0.3× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $9,577. That is about 0.3× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Ohio median ($15,202), sticker tuition is 37% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 20% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Franklin University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Franklin University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Franklin University is $25,243.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $25,243 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $13,154 above the Ohio median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $5,190 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Franklin University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Franklin University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Franklin University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$9,577
Avg. net price
$25,243
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $24,968 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $25,876 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $24,690 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $25,389 |
| $110,001+ | $29,964 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $38,308. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Franklin University is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General901
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration186
- Accounting177
- Social Sciences, General148
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management142
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Franklin University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Franklin University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Franklin University.
Campus
Location
Columbus, OH
City / state
- ZIP
- 43215-5399
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 26% above the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Great Lakes
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
5,562
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 10,126
- Graduate
- 3,269
- Full-time share
- 40%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$20,836
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 37.18%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Franklin University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Franklin University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Franklin University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $10,681 | $10,681 | $21,775 |
| 2014 | $11,161 | $11,161 | $21,927 |
| 2015 | $11,641 | $11,641 | $24,764 |
| 2016 | $11,881 | $11,881 | $22,812 |
| 2017 | $12,241 | $12,241 | $24,692 |
| 2018 | $12,649 | $12,649 | $18,684 |
| 2019 | $9,577 | $9,577 | $12,895 |
| 2020 | $9,577 | $9,577 | $7,201 |
| 2021 | $9,577 | $9,577 | $29,773 |
| 2022 | $9,577 | $9,577 | $15,502 |
| 2023 | $9,577 | $9,577 | $22,605 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Franklin University reported total enrollment of about 5,562 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 38% male and 62% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (53.2%), Black or African American (20.2%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (12.2%). About 37.18% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 50.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
40.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Franklin University in 2024 is 5,562 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 10,126 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3,269 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
35.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
2.88% 100% Completion Time
11.11% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 2.88% of students graduating from Franklin University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 41% male / 59% female
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 47% male / 53% female
- Accounting: 31% male / 69% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Franklin University graduates earn a median of $51,892 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Franklin University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $51,892. Median federal loan debt: $20,836. Average net price used in cost models: $25,243.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Franklin University graduates report median earnings of $51,892 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Franklin University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (46 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Franklin University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Franklin University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Franklin University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$10.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Ohio median 0.45× the median ($24.2M)
- Great Lakes median 0.34× the median ($31.8M)
- U.S. median 0.41× the median ($26.4M)
- Ohio median 0.11× the median ($15,287)
- Great Lakes median 0.10× the median ($16,690)
- U.S. median 0.14× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 7.3%
- Ohio median 47.6 pp below median (54.9%)
- Great Lakes median 50.8 pp below median (58.1%)
- U.S. median 50.7 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $10,339
- Ohio median 1.4× the median ($7,463)
- Great Lakes median 1.3× the median ($8,046)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $3,021
- Ohio median 0.40× the median ($7,640)
- Great Lakes median 0.39× the median ($7,690)
- U.S. median 0.41× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Franklin University at a glance
Franklin University
Franklin University is a private non-profit institution in Columbus, OH, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralCriminal Justice/Law Enforcement AdministrationAccounting
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian53.2%Black or African American20.2%Race/ethnicity unknown12.2%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Franklin University
Other campuses in Columbus, OH when available, plus nearby institutions in Ohio.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within Ohio, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Franklin University located?
Franklin University is located in Columbus, OH.
What is Franklin University's tuition?
Franklin University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $9,577 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $25,243 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Franklin University cost?
Reported tuition is $9,577 and average net price is $25,243 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,740 annually.
What explains Franklin University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($25,243), completion (11.1% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($51,892). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Franklin University?
Franklin University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 10,126 students, White (53.2%), Black or African American (20.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Franklin University?
About 50.3% of students at Franklin University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Franklin University earn?
Median earnings are $49,189 six years after entry and $51,892 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Franklin University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 11.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Franklin University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,836.
Is Franklin University public or private?
Franklin University is a private nonprofit institution located in Columbus, OH.
Is Franklin University an HBCU?
No. Franklin University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Franklin University a tribal college?
No. Franklin University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.