Franklin University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Columbus, Ohio. It enrolls 5,562 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Open / Online), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Fair
45/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes9
Value28
Affordability33
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Franklin University does not report an acceptance rate. Schools that do not publish one are usually open-admission, but confirm with the admissions office before you assume it.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $25,243 a year on average, it sits in line with what private nonprofit colleges charge nationally. Plan for the gap between that and what you can pay without borrowing. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$9,577
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,740
Books & Supplies
$552
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,264
Total Cost of Attendance
$30,696
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
$24,968
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,876
$48,001 – $75,000
$24,690
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,389
Over $110,000
$29,964
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.
$3,50110%percentile
$7,00025%percentile
$20,836Medianpercentile
$26,26475%percentile
$37,50090%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 $15,500
↓ $5,336
No Pell $12,500
↓ $8,336
Dependent students $11,000
↓ $9,836
Independent students $16,619
↓ $4,217
Female students $15,250
↓ $5,586
Male students $12,500
↓ $8,336
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,874, less than completers ($20,836), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
36% of students who start here finish within six years, and 40% come back after first year. Fewer than half finish in six years. Ask what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
36%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
40%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $51,892 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,892
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$47,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$63,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$66,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,500, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$2.1 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 5,562 students, a large student community. Worth knowing: 50% are the first in their family to go to college, and 60% study part-time, so many are working alongside classes.
Total Enrolled
5,562
Part-Time
60%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.2%2,960
Black 20.2%1,122
Hispanic 7.8%433
Other 4.4%242
Asian 2.1%118
International 0.1%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Franklin University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Franklin University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
55 distinct programs across
11 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.
There are 16 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$108M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$90,545
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
66 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank
66
100%
$90,545
Pros & Cons of Franklin University
No college is right for everyone. Here is where Franklin University is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Franklin University is a fit for
working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Franklin University
The questions families ask most about Franklin University, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
How much does Franklin University cost?
Budget around $25,243 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Franklin University worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $51,892 a year against a net price of $25,243, about 2.1 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Franklin University known for?
Mostly Business Administration, Business Administration, Accounting. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Franklin University graduates earn?
About $51,892 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Franklin University accredited?
Yes. Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Franklin University?
5,562 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Franklin University?
36% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Franklin University a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is Franklin University located?
Franklin University is located in Columbus, Ohio.
What programs does Franklin University offer?
55 different programs, most commonly Business Administration, Business Administration, Accounting. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Franklin University?
16 students per instructor. About average, so a mix of seminars and larger lectures. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
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