National university
#6 Best colleges in OhioUniversity of Dayton
Dayton, OH · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Upcoming admissions events
- Preview DayNovember 1, 2026 · On campusMore about Preview DayAdd to calendar
View all upcoming events · From the college's admissions website.
Campus tour
University of Dayton Campus Tour · From the college’s official YouTube channel. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#35 of 1,046
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#57 of 950
- Best colleges for nursing in America#71 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#76 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#61 of 834
- Best colleges for business in America#129 of 1,563
Show 19 more
- Best colleges for finance in America#66 of 744
- Best colleges for education in America#117 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#111 of 1,238
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#196 of 1,829
- Best colleges in America#206 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#161 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#177 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#164 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#158 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#162 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#158 of 1,187
- Best mid-size colleges in America#91 of 667
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#167 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#165 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#161 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#157 of 1,063
- Best colleges for computer science in America#114 of 750
- Best colleges for engineering in America#127 of 749
- Best colleges for economics in America#160 of 788
In Ohio
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Ohio#2 of 57
- Best colleges for nursing in Ohio#3 of 64
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Ohio#3 of 59
- Best colleges for accounting in Ohio#3 of 54
- Best colleges for business in Ohio#4 of 72
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Ohio#3 of 51
Show 24 more
- Best colleges in Ohio#6 of 99
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Ohio#6 of 99
- Best colleges for marketing in Ohio#3 of 48
- Best colleges for education in Ohio#4 of 63
- Best colleges for computer science in Ohio#3 of 40
- Best colleges for finance in Ohio#3 of 40
- Best colleges for psychology in Ohio#6 of 71
- Best colleges for English in Ohio#6 of 69
- Best test-optional colleges in Ohio#6 of 68
- Best colleges for history in Ohio#6 of 61
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Ohio#6 of 60
- Best colleges for art and design in Ohio#6 of 59
- Best colleges for mathematics in Ohio#6 of 55
- Best colleges for engineering in Ohio#4 of 36
- Best colleges for chemistry in Ohio#6 of 52
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Ohio#6 of 50
- Best colleges for music in Ohio#6 of 48
- Best colleges for economics in Ohio#6 of 41
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Ohio#2 of 13
- Best mid-size colleges in Ohio#5 of 32
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Ohio#5 of 28
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Ohio#8 of 33
- Best value colleges in Ohio#8 of 32
- Best value colleges in the Midwest in Ohio#8 of 32
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.80%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.89%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,335 · ACT 28
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.14 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$13,290
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $65,881 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 8,176 |
|---|---|
| Total students | 11,304 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $29,533 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $65,881 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 80% |
| First-year retention | 89% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $75,537 |
| Admission rate | 65% |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 16% |
| Average SAT | 1335 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 600–690 |
| SAT math | 600–690 |
| ACT composite | 25–31 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good · Top 49% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer engineering | |
| Physiology and pathology | |
| Management information systems | |
| Computer science | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Finance | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Business administration | |
| Accounting | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Managerial economics | |
| International business | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Industrial technology | |
| Marketing | |
| Mechanical engineering technology | |
| Entrepreneurship | |
| Pre-health | |
| Political science | |
| Global studies | |
| Biology | |
| Communication studies | |
| Design | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Economics | |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | |
| Criminal justice | |
| English | |
| History | |
| Psychology | |
| Ecology and evolutionary biology | |
| Special education | |
| Teacher education | |
| Sociology |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Computing and information science, Electrical engineering technology, Ethnic and gender studies, Film and video, Fine arts, Geology and earth science, German, Health sciences, Interdisciplinary studies, Liberal arts, Mathematics, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Nursing, Other business, management, marketing, and related support services, Other education, Other parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Philosophy, Physical Sciences, Physics, Rehabilitation and therapy, Religious studies, Romance languages, Secondary education, Theatre.
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 3% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 2% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $16,800 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Atlantic 10 Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 14 to 1 |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Questions families ask
- What is University of Dayton’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 12% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does University of Dayton cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $29,533 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into University of Dayton?
- University of Dayton admitted 65% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do University of Dayton’s graduates do?
- 80% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $75,537; the median federal debt at graduation is $23,250.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 202480
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Roman Catholic
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
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