Business/Commerce at Kent State University at Salem

Kent State Salem's business associate program sits right at the state median for earnings, which might sound reassuring until you notice something odd: graduates earn less after four years ($37,721) than they do fresh out of college ($38,871). That's unusual for business degrees, where experience typically commands higher pay. The debt load of $20,565—while higher than the national average for business associates—translates to a manageable 0.53 ratio to first-year earnings, meaning graduates are borrowing roughly half their starting salary.

The real question is what's driving that earnings dip. Are graduates taking different jobs? Switching careers? Working reduced hours? Among Ohio's 31 business associate programs, this one performs exactly average, while other regional Kent State campuses produce identical outcomes. The consistency suggests this reflects broader labor market conditions in eastern Ohio rather than anything specific to the Salem campus. You're paying state median debt for state median results.

For parents weighing this investment, the math works on paper—graduates can realistically pay down $20,565 on a near-$39,000 salary. But that flat-to-declining earnings trajectory deserves scrutiny. If your child plans to stay in the Salem area and needs an affordable entry point into business careers, this delivers that. If they're hoping for steady income growth and advancement, you'll want to understand why that pattern isn't showing up in the data.