Ashland University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Ashland, Ohio. It enrolls 2,199 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes49
Value38
Affordability41
Selectivity45
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 76.4%, Ashland University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
76.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1035 – 1208
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Ashland University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
9.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Ashland University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,988 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,988
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
29%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$31,210
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,568
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,800
Books & Supplies
$960
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,768
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$43,434
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,489
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,893
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,052
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,229
Over $110,000
$26,507
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$32,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,500
↓ $4,500
No Pell $19,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $20,500
↓ $4,500
Independent students $19,032
↓ $5,968
Female students $20,500
↓ $4,500
Male students $18,750
↓ $6,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,699, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
57% of full-time students who enrolled at Ashland University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
57%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Ashland University earn a median of $52,928 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,928
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,500, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
4.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Ashland University is home to 2,199 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,199
Part-Time
16%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 76.7%1,686
Black 9.5%208
Hispanic 4.1%90
Other 4.0%87
International 2.8%61
Asian 1.2%26
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Ashland University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeAshland, Ohio
Housing
Strongly residential1,593 beds for 2,199 students
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Ashland University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ashland University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$209M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,038
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
139 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
42
30%
$73,884
Associate Professors
33
24%
$68,356
Assistant Professors
38
27%
$62,628
Instructors
22
16%
$61,027
Lecturers
4
3%
$59,240
Pros & Cons of Ashland University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Ashland University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Ashland University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ashland University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Ashland University.
Is Ashland University hard to get into?
Ashland University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Ashland University?
Ashland University has an acceptance rate of 76.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Ashland University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Ashland University scored between 1035 and 1208 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Ashland University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Ashland University scored between 20 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Ashland University cost?
The average net price after aid at Ashland University is $21,988 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Ashland University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,928 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,988 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Ashland University known for?
Ashland University is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Ashland University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Ashland University are $52,928, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Ashland University accredited?
Yes. Ashland University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Ashland University?
Ashland University enrolls 2,199 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Ashland University?
Ashland University graduates 57% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Ashland University a public or private college?
Ashland University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Ashland University located?
Ashland University is located in Ashland, Ohio.
What programs does Ashland University offer?
Ashland University offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Ashland University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ashland University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Ashland University
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