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

Ohio State Marion's liberal arts associate program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: it outperforms most programs nationally but trails the Ohio median by nearly $3,000 annually. That 40th percentile state ranking tells the real story—half of Ohio's liberal arts programs deliver better earnings outcomes, often at comparable or lower debt loads. The $14,000 debt figure seems modest until you realize it's actually below the state median of $17,500, yet Marion Technical College graduates with this degree earn $51,927—roughly $11,000 more annually than OSU Marion grads four years out.

The earnings trajectory provides some reassurance: graduates see 28% income growth from year one to year four, reaching $40,922. That's solid momentum for an associate degree. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 is manageable, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. But context matters—you're paying for the Ohio State name on a degree that, in this field, doesn't appear to command the premium it might in other programs.

For families drawn to Ohio State's brand, understand that this particular campus and program combination doesn't translate into top-tier Ohio outcomes for liberal arts graduates. If your student is committed to a general studies path, you'll find better returns elsewhere in the state. If the appeal is Ohio State specifically, consider whether starting here for transfer purposes justifies settling for middle-of-the-pack earnings in a crowded field.