Miami Hamilton ranked No. 1 public school in Ohio for return on investment

Miami University’s Hamilton campus has the best 40-year return on investment among public schools who primarily issue bachelor’s degrees, according to a study from Georgetown University and Stacker.

The study utilizes net present value (NPV), a number that calculates future earnings based on earnings 10 and 40 years, respectively, after starting college.

Miami Hamilton students have an average $1,017,000 NPV in their first 40 years out of university. For comparison, students who graduated from Miami’s Oxford campus have a 40-year NPV of $967,000.

Out of the 17 criteria-eligible universities in the state of Ohio, Miami Hamilton placed ahead of schools such as Ohio State University, the University of Cincinnati and Bowling Green State University.

Including private universities, trade schools and other programs, Miami Hamilton placed 23rd.

Ruth Orth, the interim regional director of Miami’s Regional Campuses, cited the low cost of Miami Hamilton programs in achieving the top spot.

“Part of our mission at the regionals has always been about affordability,” Orth said. “Many of our regional students live within 30 miles of the campus, and it has been important to translate jobs in our community at an affordable price.”

In comparing Miami’s Oxford campus to Miami’s Hamilton campus, Orth said it was a little tricky. According to Miami’s website, its Oxford campus tuition for first-time Ohio residents in fall 2020 totaled $30,734 for two semesters. Miami’s Hamilton campus costs $3,264.64 per semester.

“There were a lot of factors that were in play to that. While Oxford is an amazing Public Ivy institution, [the study was] looking at the cost based on long-term value and learning potential,” Orth said. “Bachelor’s degrees being $27,000, you know that factors into it. It’s really equating apples to oranges.”

In a press release by the university, Cathy Bishop-Clark, dean of Miami regionals, said the ranking asserts the Hamilton campus as a low-cost option that gives opportunities to students.

"When selecting a major, it's hard for prospective students to fully understand the cost of their education and how it impacts their potential lifetime earnings," Bishop-Clark said. “This ranking reaffirms our belief that Miami Regionals is a strong value.”

Theo Cox, a junior engineering technology and electrical & computer engineering technology double major at Miami’s Hamilton campus, said the low cost really helped him in finding a college.

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“Paying tuition like this is far better over a few years compared to coming out of college with 80k in the hole,” Cox said. “Colleges are supposed to make higher class adults in today’s world, but if the debt becomes a wall to success and stability down the road, can you say you made the right choice?”

Marielena Orozco, a junior nursing major at Miami’s Hamilton campus, said she hopes the low cost of the Miami Hamilton degree will help down the line.

“I have been able to pay out of pocket and not have to take out any loans,” Orozco said. “By the time I graduate, I should be debt free and I would not have been able to do that without the prices they offer.”

@simmons_taj

simmontp@miamioh.edu