Marketing at Kent State University at Kent

Kent State's marketing program sits squarely in the middle of the national pack but lags behind in-state competition—a reality reflected in its 40th percentile ranking among Ohio marketing programs. While first-year earnings of $44,567 nearly match the national median, they fall $3,000 short of what the typical Ohio marketing graduate earns. That gap matters when you're comparing tuition options within the state, particularly against programs at Miami University and Ohio State that launch graduates into $56,000+ starting salaries.

The financial structure here works reasonably well: $25,000 in debt translates to a manageable 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio, and solid earnings growth of 19% over four years shows graduates aren't stuck in entry-level positions. These figures won't create financial hardship, but they won't create significant wealth-building runway early in a career either. The program enrolls a broad range of students (87% admission rate), which helps explain the middle-of-the-road outcomes.

For Ohio families, this becomes a value calculation. If your child can access Kent State at a significant tuition discount compared to Miami or Ohio State, the earnings gap might be worth accepting. But if the cost difference is modest, those higher-ranking programs deliver substantially better starting positions. Kent State will get your child employed in marketing—just not at the front of the line.