Business/Commerce at Kent State University at East Liverpool

Kent State East Liverpool's business associate's degree places graduates right at the middle of the pack for Ohio programs—literally matching the state median at $38,871 first-year earnings. That's solid for an associate's degree in business, landing in the 60th percentile statewide and notably above the $36,591 national median. The debt load of $20,565 is higher than the national median but typical for Ohio programs, resulting in a manageable 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates are clearing their debt in roughly half a year's salary, which represents reasonable leverage for an associate's degree.

The concern here is stagnation: earnings actually dip slightly to $37,721 by year four rather than growing. This pattern suggests the degree may be opening doors to entry-level positions without much upward mobility built in. Given the moderate sample size, this could reflect regional economic conditions in the East Liverpool area as much as the program itself. Other Kent State regional campuses show identical first-year outcomes, indicating consistent preparation across the system.

For families looking at an affordable path into business careers in eastern Ohio, this program delivers decent starting wages at a reasonable debt level. Just understand that four years out, graduates are earning roughly what they started with—so career advancement will likely require additional credentials or strategic job changes.