Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Ohio
Christian colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Ohio4 schools
4 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Ohio.
- Christian 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. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 13.8 years
- Earnings $55,443 ten years out
- 2
Ashland University
Ashland, OH · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 19.3 years
- Earnings $52,928 ten years out
- 3
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OH · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 75.0 years
- Earnings $49,555 ten years out
- 4
Malone University
Canton, OH · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 152.6 years
- Earnings $48,909 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedarville University | $24,468 | $20,937 | $55,443 | 73% |
| Ashland University | $21,988 | $25,000 | $52,928 | 61% |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | $22,421 | $25,000 | $49,555 | 68% |
| Malone University | $20,948 | $26,289 | $48,909 | 45% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.