Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Cuyahoga Community College District

Cuyahoga Community College's liberal arts program significantly underperforms compared to similar programs across Ohio, ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide despite performing reasonably well nationally. While graduates earn $28,760 in their first year—slightly above the national median of $27,248—they fall well short of Ohio's state median of $33,847. This $5,000+ gap suggests students might find better value at other in-state options.

The debt picture offers some consolation, with graduates owing a manageable $11,000 compared to Ohio's typical $17,500 for this program type. This lower debt load creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38, meaning graduates can potentially pay off their loans within reasonable timeframes. Earnings do grow 16% over four years to $33,275, though this still lags behind what many Ohio programs deliver from day one.

For Ohio families, this program represents a budget-conscious entry point into higher education, but the opportunity cost is significant. Students could potentially earn substantially more by choosing other Ohio community colleges or regional campuses that deliver stronger employment outcomes in the same field, making this a case where shopping around within the state could pay meaningful dividends.