Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Defiance College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 suggests a manageable financial picture for Defiance College's liberal arts bachelor's degree, though it's important to understand what we're really looking at here. Because this program's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publicly report outcomes, these figures come from the typical Ohio liberal arts graduate—$40,556 in first-year earnings and $27,625 in debt. That earnings estimate actually matches the state median exactly and sits above the $36,340 national benchmark, while the debt estimate runs slightly below Ohio's typical $31,000.

The challenge is that Defiance's actual outcomes could differ substantially from these peer-based estimates. With nearly half of students receiving Pell grants, the college serves a population that can't afford surprises in either direction. Liberal arts degrees at Ohio schools with reported data show considerable range—from Xavier's $47,064 down to around $41,200 at regional Kent State campuses. Where Defiance falls within that spectrum matters enormously for families taking on nearly $28,000 in loans.

Before committing, press the admissions office for concrete information about recent graduate outcomes: job placement rates, typical employers, and what proportion of graduates pursue additional degrees. The estimated numbers suggest viability, but you need actual evidence that this specific program delivers on that promise for students similar to your child.