Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute

Ohio State ATI graduates from this associate's program earn solidly above the national median for liberal arts degrees, but here's the catch: they're actually trailing most Ohio programs by a significant margin. At $31,870 in the first year, earnings sit in the 81st percentile nationally yet only the 40th percentile within Ohio—meaning more than half of comparable Ohio programs deliver better outcomes. That gap widens when you see programs like Marion Technical College posting nearly $52,000 for graduates with the same credential.

The debt picture offers some compensation. At $14,000, graduates carry less than the state median of $17,500, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44. Strong earnings growth of 28% over four years also helps, pushing median pay past $40,000 by year four. For a family prioritizing affordability and a solid foundation, this combination keeps the program viable.

The real question is opportunity cost. If your child is already considering Ohio State's system, they're competing with in-state programs that deliver the same associate's degree but with $10,000-$20,000 higher starting salaries. Unless Wooster's location or specific campus culture matters significantly, the data suggests exploring those higher-performing Ohio options first. This isn't a bad program—it's just that Ohio offers notably better value propositions for the same credential.