University of Dayton
A good fit for students considering a private nonprofit institution in Ohio. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $61,400 within 10 years; strong 80% graduation rate.
About This School
University of Dayton is a private nonprofit institution located in Dayton, Ohio with approximately 7,682 undergraduate students enrolled. University of Dayton has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 65%. The average net price after financial aid is $29,533 per year. The graduation rate is 80%, and the typical graduate earns $61,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of Dayton (UD) is a private, Catholic research university in Dayton, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1850 by the Society of Mary, it is one of three Marianist universities in the US and the second-largest private university in Ohio. Its campus is located in southern Dayton and spans 388 acres on both sides of the Great Miami River. The campus is noted for the Immaculate Conception Chapel and the University of Dayton Arena.
A Catholic research university with a tight-knit community feel, UD's 89% freshman retention and 82% graduation rate signal that students who enroll tend to stick around and finish — which matters. The financial picture is reasonable too: median debt of $19,500 is well below average, and graduates earn around $61,400 a decade out, making the $31,236 annual net price a defensible investment. Worth considering if you want a mid-sized university with a values-driven identity and solid outcomes, though students seeking a secular or urban environment may want to weigh the Dayton, Ohio setting carefully.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 18% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
University of Dayton graduates earn most above the national rate in Health/Medical Preparatory Programs ($76,475 vs $61,911 nationally), and most below it in Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($95,595 vs $100,647).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 171 | $95,925 | $83,343 | +$12,582 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 166 | $88,339 | $92,135 | −$3,796 |
| Marketing | 155 | $80,677 | $69,303 | +$11,374 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 123 | $67,231 | $56,359 | +$10,872 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 106 | $47,775 | $47,382 | +$393 |
| Psychology, General | 97 | $54,909 | $50,706 | +$4,203 |
| Biology, General | 80 | $67,414 | $57,214 | +$10,200 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 80 | $95,595 | $100,647 | −$5,052 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 69 | $76,475 | $61,911 | +$14,564 |
| Chemical Engineering | 62 | $97,184 | $98,158 | −$974 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 61 | $90,314 | $76,194 | +$14,120 |
| Civil Engineering | 60 | $83,460 | $86,517 | −$3,057 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (7,682 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
University of Dayton is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of Dayton?
University of Dayton has an acceptance rate of 65%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is University of Dayton hard to get into?
University of Dayton is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 65%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does University of Dayton cost?
The average net price at University of Dayton is about $29,533 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at University of Dayton?
University of Dayton has a graduation rate of 80%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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