Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Lorain County Community College

Lorain County Community College's liberal arts associate's program starts slowly but shows impressive momentum, with earnings jumping 29% from year one to year four. That growth trajectory matters, but the starting point is concerning: first-year graduates earn $26,257, placing this program in just the 25th percentile among Ohio's 76 similar programs. Compare that to the state median of $33,847, and you're looking at a $7,590 gap right out of the gate—that's real money when you're trying to establish independence.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $12,060, it's manageable and well below Ohio's median of $17,500 for these programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 means graduates should be able to handle their loans, though those early years will be tighter than if they'd attended a stronger-performing Ohio program. By year four, when earnings reach $33,965, graduates finally catch up to where typical Ohio liberal arts grads start—but they've spent four years earning less to get there.

For families choosing between Ohio community colleges, this data suggests looking elsewhere. Programs at Marion Technical College nearly double these four-year earnings, and several Ohio University regional campuses offer significantly better starting positions. If Lorain County is the local option and cost is paramount, the low debt keeps this viable, but understand your student will likely spend several years playing catch-up in the Ohio job market.