Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State's Associate's program in Liberal Arts shows a puzzling disconnect: it ranks in the 81st percentile nationally but only the 40th percentile within Ohio—meaning most comparable in-state programs deliver better outcomes. At $31,870 in first-year earnings, graduates earn $2,000 less than the Ohio median for this degree, despite attending the state's flagship university. Meanwhile, schools like Marion Technical College and several Ohio University regional campuses produce graduates earning $5,000 to $20,000 more annually.

The program does offer strong earnings growth—jumping 28% to nearly $41,000 by year four—and debt remains manageable at $14,000, below the state median of $17,500. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 means graduates could theoretically pay off loans within six months of first-year salary, which is reasonable for an associate's degree. However, this ignores the opportunity cost: your child could attend a regional campus or technical college in Ohio and start $5,000+ ahead while likely paying less for the credential.

For a student planning to continue at Ohio State for a bachelor's degree, this associate's program might serve as an affordable entry point to the university. But as a standalone degree, it underperforms the Ohio market by a significant margin. If your child isn't transferring into a four-year program at OSU, consider the regional options that consistently deliver stronger earnings outcomes.