Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Cleveland State University

A $31,000 debt load paired with first-year earnings around $40,500 represents a manageable financing picture for a general studies degree—at least based on what similar Ohio programs typically produce. Cleveland State's liberal arts graduates would be taking on debt roughly equivalent to nine months of their first year's salary, which falls within the conventional guideline of keeping borrowing below annual income. The bigger question is whether these broad-based degrees deliver enough specialized skills to justify four years of investment when Ohio's job market increasingly rewards technical credentials.

The challenge with general studies programs is visible in the data: even strong Ohio schools with reported outcomes for this major—Xavier at $47,000, Ohio State at $43,000—show only modest earnings premiums over Cleveland State's estimated $40,500. That narrow range suggests the degree itself may matter less than what students do with it afterward, whether that's graduate school, professional certifications, or leveraging Cleveland State's urban location for internships and networking. With a 95% admission rate and nearly 40% of students on Pell grants, Cleveland State serves a population that often needs to work while studying, which can make the flexibility of a general studies program valuable even if it doesn't command premium starting salaries.

The debt-to-earnings math works here, but parents should understand they're financing a foundation rather than a direct career path. The degree keeps doors open without guaranteeing which ones will matter most.