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

Kent State's liberal arts associate degree delivers exceptional earnings outcomes that justify its higher-than-average cost. Graduates earn $34,969 in their first year—ranking in the 95th percentile nationally and significantly outpacing both the national median ($27,248) and Ohio median ($33,847) for this program. While the program ranks at the 60th percentile within Ohio, that's largely because several specialized Ohio University campuses dominate the state rankings.

The debt picture tells an important story about value. At $20,500, student debt is higher than both national ($10,950) and state ($17,500) medians for liberal arts programs, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 is quite manageable—meaning graduates earn nearly twice what they owe in their first year alone. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates gives confidence in these outcomes, and earnings grow modestly to $38,697 by year four.

For parents concerned about liberal arts degrees leading nowhere, Kent State's program proves that reputation and location matter. While you're paying a premium compared to community college alternatives, your child would be getting access to one of the top-performing liberal arts programs in the country. The earnings advantage over typical programs in this field more than compensates for the additional debt burden.