Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Clark State College

Clark State's liberal arts associate degree starts slowly but shows something worth noting: graduates see 36% earnings growth over four years, climbing from $24,000 to nearly $33,000. The problem? That still leaves them in the bottom quarter of Ohio's liberal arts programs, earning about $1,200 less than the state median even after that growth.

The relatively low debt of $14,260 provides some cushion—it's actually below Ohio's typical $17,500 for this program. At a 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates face manageable repayment even at those modest starting salaries. With over a third of students receiving Pell grants, this access point serves students who might not otherwise pursue higher education.

Here's the reality: if you're comparing this to Marion Technical's $52,000 outcomes or even the mid-$30,000s that several Ohio University campuses deliver, Clark State falls short. But if the alternative is no degree at all, the math works—debt stays reasonable and earnings do improve meaningfully over time. This makes most sense as a stepping stone (transfer to a four-year program) or for students with very specific financial constraints who need to stay close to Springfield. As a terminal degree for immediate career entry, you're accepting below-average Ohio earnings in exchange for lower debt and local access.