Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at Cleveland State University

Cleveland State's Management Sciences program produces unusual results: graduates start below average but achieve 35% income growth by year four, reaching $63,587—still below the national median but closer than the initial gap suggests. At $47,040, first-year earnings lag behind Ohio's median by $11,000, placing this in just the 25th percentile statewide. That means three-quarters of similar Ohio programs deliver better starting salaries, including much stronger outcomes at nearby competitors like Ohio State ($68,814) and Miami University ($74,770).

The debt picture offers some relief. At $24,050, graduates carry manageable loans with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51—meaning the first year's salary covers roughly twice the debt. This beats the "one year of salary equals debt" threshold that typically signals trouble. The moderate sample size suggests these figures reflect a real, though not large, cohort of graduates.

For families comparing options, the question is whether Cleveland State's accessible admission (95% acceptance rate) and eventual earnings growth justify the slow start. If your student can secure admission to Ohio State or Miami, those programs deliver $5,000-$11,000 more annually without requiring four years to close the gap. Cleveland State might work for students who need the lower admission bar and can weather below-average early earnings, but stronger students should expect better initial returns elsewhere in Ohio's market.