Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Ohio
Catholic colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Ohio4 schools
4 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Ohio.
- Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 12, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.3 years
- Earnings $75,537 ten years out
- 2
Walsh University
North Canton, OH · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 7.2 years
- Earnings $59,764 ten years out
- 3
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 8.0 years
- Earnings $64,873 ten years out
- 4
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 56.5 years
- Earnings $50,030 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Dayton | $29,533 | $23,250 | $75,537 | 80% |
| Walsh University | $20,493 | $27,000 | $59,764 | 59% |
| Xavier University | $32,997 | $23,250 | $64,873 | 69% |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | $23,589 | $23,384 | $50,030 | 75% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.