Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Eastern Gateway Community College

Eastern Gateway's liberal arts program carries a significant warning: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers may not reflect what future students will actually experience. That said, the trend here deserves attention—graduates earn $30,770 initially but see that drop to $27,234 four years out, a concerning 11% decline when most workers expect rising incomes. While that starting salary beats 76% of similar programs nationally, it falls short of Ohio's median for this degree by over $6,000, landing in just the 40th percentile statewide.

The modest $8,500 debt load is the program's strongest selling point, representing less than three months of first-year earnings. However, other Ohio community colleges offering this degree typically see graduates earning substantially more—Marion Tech's alumni average over $50,000, and several Ohio University regional campuses cluster around $37,000. Given that 30% of Eastern Gateway students receive Pell grants, affordability matters, but affordability without strong earnings outcomes still leaves graduates financially vulnerable.

For anxious parents, the small sample size makes this a risky bet. If your student is certain about transferring these credits toward a bachelor's degree at a four-year school, the low debt makes sense as a stepping stone. But if this associate's degree is the endpoint, the declining earnings trajectory and below-average performance within Ohio suggest looking at alternative community college options in the state.