Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) at Ohio Wesleyan University

In Ohio, legal studies programs typically produce stronger outcomes than these estimates suggest for Ohio Wesleyan. While peer programs nationally indicate first-year earnings around $39,000, Ohio State's actual reported figure of $51,231 shows what's achievable in-state—a $12,000 annual difference that compounds significantly over a career. The estimated $27,000 debt here slightly exceeds the national median but sits well above Ohio's typical $22,938, creating a more challenging financial starting point than state peers.

The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio based on comparable programs falls in workable territory, but context matters: you're looking at estimated outcomes that trail actual Ohio results by roughly 23%. For a selective liberal arts college with an average SAT of 1311, this gap raises questions about program strength or career placement support specifically for legal studies majors. General legal studies bachelor's degrees don't lead directly to attorney positions—most graduates pursue paralegal work, compliance roles, or graduate school—which makes that first-year earnings figure especially relevant to understand.

Given the uncertainty inherent in these estimates and the substantial gap between these projections and actual Ohio outcomes, you'd want concrete answers from Ohio Wesleyan about placement rates and typical career paths before committing. If law school is the goal, focus on undergraduate debt minimization regardless of major. If direct entry to legal support careers is the plan, programs with reported outcomes closer to that $51,000 Ohio benchmark offer more financial certainty.