Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Ohio University-Lancaster Campus

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Ohio University-Lancaster Campus that cost less. 3 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Ohio University-Lancaster Campus

Lancaster, Ohio · Public

$5,650
Net Price
$52,581
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
14.1%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Ohio University-Lancaster Campus

Ohio University-Lancaster Campus posts an average net price of $5,650 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Ohio University-Lancaster Campus across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $6,417, achieved by Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at -$767. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 3 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Ohio University-Lancaster Campus’s $52,581, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $50,029.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$6,417
Max Savings
3
Better Value Options
57%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Ohio University-Eastern Camp $53k 2. Kapiolani Community College $45k 3. University of New Mexico-Gal $45k 4. College of Staten Island CUN $54k 5. West Valley College $52k Compared to Ohio University-Lancaster Campus: $53k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public Better Value
$3,925 -$1,725 $52,581 20.3% 57%
Kapiolani Community College
Honolulu, HI · Public
$5,202 -$448 $44,599 21.2% 56%
University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus
Gallup, NM · Public
$4,868 -$782 $44,792 19.5% 53%
College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY · Public Better Value
$5,579 -$71 $53,501 33.4% 51%
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA · Public
$3,423 -$2,227 $51,688 51.5% 51%
United Technical Center
Clarksburg, WV · Public
$3,461 -$2,189 $49,130 N/A 51%
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public
$2,829 -$2,821 $43,892 36.6% 51%
Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center
Stollings, WV · Public
-$767 -$6,417 $51,465 87.1% 50%
Green Country Technology Center
Okmulgee, OK · Public
$1,062 -$4,588 $51,375 75.6% 50%
Norco College
Norco, CA · Public
$5,169 -$481 $51,206 36.8% 50%
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA · Public
$5,377 -$273 $51,088 50.7% 50%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA · Public
$2,624 -$3,026 $50,651 23.1% 50%
CUNY New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY · Public
$5,127 -$523 $49,365 20.5% 50%
College of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA · Public Better Value
$536 -$5,114 $54,172 58.7% 49%
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA · Public
$5,080 -$570 $50,936 46.4% 49%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Ohio University-Lancaster Campus are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Ohio University-Lancaster Campus?
We found 15 schools similar to Ohio University-Lancaster Campus that cost less. The closest match is Ohio University-Eastern Campus with 57% similarity and a net price of $3,925.
What is the ROI of attending Ohio University-Lancaster Campus?
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus has an average net price of $5,650. Former students earn a median of $52,581 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 9.3x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Ohio University-Lancaster Campus for less money?
Yes - 3 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Ohio University-Eastern Campus costs $3,925 (saving $1,725) with median earnings of $52,581.
What is the cheapest alternative to Ohio University-Lancaster Campus?
The most affordable similar school is Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center at -$767, saving $6,417 compared to Ohio University-Lancaster Campus. It has a 50% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $50,029 compared to Ohio University-Lancaster Campus's $52,581. While alternatives cost less, their average earnings are also lower. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.