Business/Commerce at Kent State University at Tuscarawas

Kent State Tuscarawas's business associate degree produces first-year earnings that match Ohio's median for this program, placing graduates at the 60th percentile statewide—a solid showing among 31 schools. With debt of $20,565 and a 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates typically need about six months of gross income to cover their loans, which is reasonable for a two-year degree. The program costs moderately more than the national median debt of $13,437, but that's consistent across Ohio's business programs.

The concerning pattern is what happens after year one: earnings slip to $37,721 by year four, a 3% decline that's unusual for business graduates who typically see modest gains. This suggests graduates may be in retail, administrative, or entry-level service roles where advancement stalls quickly rather than management tracks with clearer upward trajectories. Among the Kent State regional campuses, several show identical first-year earnings, indicating similar placement patterns across the system.

For families, this works if your student plans to transfer these credits to a four-year program or needs immediate workforce entry with manageable debt. The flat earnings trajectory means banking on promotion potential within their first employer, not steady market-driven wage growth. At roughly $38,000 annually, that's a living wage in New Philadelphia but leaves little room for major life expenses—something to weigh against two more years of bachelor's degree investment that could break through that earnings ceiling.