Human Development, Family Studies, at Kent State University at Kent

Kent State's Human Development and Family Studies program sits squarely in the middle nationally but lags behind other Ohio options—a distinction that matters for in-state students paying in-state tuition. While graduates start at $33,643, that's $3,000 below the state median for this major. More concerning, the program ranks in just the 40th percentile among Ohio's 21 schools offering this degree, with Ohio University's various campuses producing graduates earning roughly $5,000 more annually.

The debt picture offers a bright spot: at $26,913, borrowing is modest and actually below the national median, creating a manageable 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates see steady income growth to $36,638 by year four, which is respectable though still trails state peers. With robust sample size backing these figures, they're reliable indicators rather than statistical noise.

For Ohio families, this is a functional choice but not an optimal one. If your student has admission to Ohio University or another top-performing Ohio program in this field, those alternatives deliver noticeably stronger earnings outcomes. Kent State works if it's the most convenient or affordable option after considering scholarships and housing costs, but don't choose it assuming all Ohio schools in this major perform similarly—the data shows they don't.