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

Kent State Stark's Liberal Arts program outperforms most peer programs nationwide while keeping debt remarkably manageable. Graduates earn $41,205 their first year—ranking in the 73rd percentile nationally and 60th percentile statewide—yet carry debt 90% lower than typical liberal arts graduates. That 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than they'll earn in their first year, an uncommon position for humanities majors and one that provides real financial flexibility after graduation.

The tradeoff here is modest earnings growth: income rises just 5% over four years to $43,439. That's still competitive with Ohio State's liberal arts program and nearly matches Xavier's stronger outcomes, but falls short of the earnings ceiling you'll find at some Ohio schools. However, the lower debt burden partially offsets this plateau—graduates aren't weighting down their 20s with overwhelming monthly payments while navigating early-career pivots or graduate school decisions.

For families where affordability matters most, this program delivers solid middle-class earnings without the debt burden that typically accompanies humanities degrees. The numbers work because Kent State Stark keeps borrowing reasonable while still producing graduates who land near the top of their field nationally.