Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Kent State University at Geauga

Kent State Geauga's liberal arts program outperforms most of its peers while keeping debt surprisingly manageable—graduates earn $41,205 in their first year, landing above the national median and near Ohio's middle tier. Among 61 Ohio programs, it ranks at the 60th percentile, trailing Xavier and Antioch but matching its sister campuses. More impressively, debt here sits at just $31,963, in the 10th percentile nationally, meaning 90% of similar programs nationwide saddle students with more debt.

The 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio makes this program's economics work reasonably well. Graduates carry less than a year's salary in debt, and earnings climb to $43,439 by year four—modest growth, but steady. For a liberal arts degree, which often struggles with post-graduation earnings, this represents a relatively stable financial foundation.

The real story here is value: you're getting above-average outcomes without the debt burden that typically accompanies private institutions or flagship campuses. While Xavier graduates earn $6,000 more initially, they likely face steeper costs. If your child wants the flexibility of a liberal arts education and plans to stay in Ohio, Kent State Geauga delivers that credential without forcing them to bet their financial future on it.