Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Sinclair Community College

Sinclair's Liberal Arts associate degree hits the national average but lags notably behind other Ohio programs—graduates earn $28,086 in their first year, which places them in the 57th percentile nationally yet only the 25th percentile statewide. That $5,700 gap below the Ohio median matters because most graduates will be competing for jobs in the regional market where other community colleges are producing stronger outcomes.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $12,500, it's manageable and well below Ohio's typical $17,500 for this program. Graduates see decent earnings growth—jumping to $33,561 by year four—which helps them catch up to the state median over time. For families seeking an affordable path to a bachelor's degree, this could work as a transfer platform, especially given that over a quarter of students receive Pell grants.

The real question is why this program underperforms other Ohio options. Community colleges like Marion Technical are placing graduates at nearly double Sinclair's first-year earnings, suggesting curriculum or employer connection differences matter. If your student plans to complete just the associate degree and enter the workforce, the weaker Ohio positioning is a concern. If they're transferring to a four-year school, the modest debt load makes this a reasonable stepping stone—just understand the earnings won't impress in year one.