Accounting at Stark State College

Stark State's accounting associate program graduates start at $38,671—slightly above both the Ohio median and national average—but with a concerning 7% earnings drop by year four. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile among Ohio accounting programs, that still puts it well behind top performers like Cuyahoga Community College, where graduates earn $44,532.

The $19,455 in median debt creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50, meaning graduates carry roughly half their first-year salary in student loans. This is manageable compared to some programs, particularly since it's below the state's median debt of $24,750 for accounting programs. However, the declining earnings pattern raises questions about whether these graduates are advancing in their careers or possibly cycling through entry-level positions.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable than you'd want for a major financial decision. If your child is set on accounting, this program offers reasonable debt and gets them into the workforce earning slightly above average. But the backwards earnings trajectory and the gap between Stark State and stronger Ohio programs like Cuyahoga suggest exploring those alternatives first, especially if commute distance isn't prohibitive.