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

Ohio University-Zanesville's liberal arts program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—40th percentile among Ohio programs—but that becomes more concerning when you see what "middle" actually means here. At $34,707 in the first year, graduates earn about $6,000 less than the Ohio median for this degree and trail significantly behind what students at Ohio State's main campus or Xavier achieve. The $26,000 in debt sits below the state average, which helps, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 still means graduates start with debt equal to three-quarters of their annual salary.

The earnings trajectory does improve—20% growth over four years brings graduates to $41,518, crossing above the national median. But this still leaves them behind Ohio's state median by year four, suggesting the regional campus may not deliver the same value as larger Ohio institutions in this field. For a general liberal arts degree where career outcomes can vary widely, starting nearly $7,000 below your in-state peers matters.

If your child is committed to staying local and has minimal other options, the relatively manageable debt makes this workable. But if Ohio State, Kent State, or other public alternatives are accessible, those programs show stronger placement even for the same credential. This is a degree where the institution's network and location really influence the return.