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

Ohio State Newark's liberal arts associate degree costs students more than typical Ohio programs ($14,000 vs. $17,500 median debt) while delivering below-average earnings for the state. Four years out, graduates earn $40,922—solid growth from their starting salary, but still $7,000 less than the Ohio median for this program. That 40th percentile ranking among Ohio schools is telling: you're paying OSU prices without getting OSU-caliber outcomes, at least at the associate level.

The national picture looks better, with earnings landing in the 81st percentile compared to similar programs nationwide. But this largely reflects how weak liberal arts associate degrees perform nationally rather than anything exceptional about this particular program. The debt load is reasonable and manageable at 44% of first-year earnings, so graduates aren't drowning in payments. Still, when comparable programs like Ohio University's regional campuses deliver $36,942 in earnings with potentially similar costs, the value gap becomes clear.

For families considering this path, understand that you're essentially paying for the OSU name on an associate degree that performs middle-of-the-pack within Ohio. If this is a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree at a main OSU campus, that calculus might work. As a standalone credential, though, the economics suggest looking at higher-performing Ohio alternatives or questioning whether an associate in liberal arts—even from a name-brand institution—justifies the investment.