Apparel and Textiles at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State's Apparel and Textiles program outperforms most programs nationally but offers less competitive earnings than you might expect given the school's reputation. Graduates earn $41,827 in their first year—placing them in the 95th percentile nationally for this field—yet they fall to the 60th percentile among Ohio programs. That's because Ohio University's regional campuses cluster at a higher median, suggesting this field may offer more consistent outcomes in Ohio than in other states.

The debt picture is manageable but not exceptional. At $22,313, graduates carry about 10% less debt than the national typical, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 that most families can handle. The 21% earnings bump by year four ($50,521) shows steady career progression, which matters in fashion and textile careers where entry positions often pay modestly but experience opens doors to design, merchandising, or product development roles.

For a student passionate about fashion who wants Big Ten credentials and strong early earnings in this field, Ohio State delivers. But families focused purely on return-on-investment should recognize this won't compete with Ohio State's engineering or business outcomes. The program works best for students committed to the apparel industry who value the broader university experience and Columbus's retail connections—just understand that other Ohio programs produce similar or slightly better earnings at comparable debt levels.