Design and Applied Arts at Ohio University-Eastern Campus

The $24,716 starting salary here ranks in the 11th percentile nationally, but the real story is what happens next: earnings jump 70% to $42,105 by year four, which moves graduates past Ohio's state median and closer to the performance of larger flagship programs. Among Ohio's 42 Design and Applied Arts programs, this ranks exactly at the 40th percentile—middle of the pack for the state, though starting wages trail schools like Cincinnati ($52,526) and Miami ($47,295) significantly.

The debt load of $26,791 matches both the national and Ohio medians exactly, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.08 that looks manageable once graduates clear that difficult first year. The question for parents is whether their child can weather that initial period of low earnings—potentially requiring financial support or side work—before the trajectory improves. The 70% earnings growth suggests the program builds skills that become more valuable with experience, but that first year represents a real financial vulnerability.

For families who can provide support through those early years and who see their student committed to design work in Ohio's market, the four-year outcome justifies the investment. If your child needs immediate earnings to service debt independently, however, you're looking at a challenging first 12-18 months that could create financial strain.