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

Kent State Salem's Liberal Arts associate's program delivers exceptional earnings outcomes that rank in the 95th percentile nationally, with graduates earning $34,969 in their first year—nearly $8,000 above the national median for similar programs. While the program ranks at the 60th percentile within Ohio, this still represents solid performance in a competitive state market. The debt load of $20,500 is higher than both national and state medians, but the strong earnings create a manageable debt-to-income ratio of 0.59.

The premium pricing becomes clearer when comparing debt levels: students here borrow nearly twice the national median ($10,950) and more than Ohio's median ($17,500). However, the significantly higher earnings help justify this investment. Graduates see steady 11% earnings growth by year four, reaching $38,697, which suggests good career trajectory potential.

For parents weighing this investment, the program offers a clear value proposition despite higher costs. Your child would graduate with earnings potential that far exceeds most liberal arts programs nationally, though they'll carry more debt than typical. Given the robust sample size of 100+ graduates, these numbers are reliable. This program makes sense if you're comfortable with moderate debt levels in exchange for substantially better earning potential than most liberal arts associate's degrees.