Information Science/Studies at University of Akron Main Campus

The University of Akron's Information Science program delivers one clear win—exceptionally low debt at just $17,589, ranking in the 5th percentile nationally. That's roughly $8,000 below Ohio's median and $7,000 below the state median for this field. Combined with first-year earnings of $56,824, graduates face a remarkably manageable debt burden with a 0.31 ratio. However, small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly year to year.

The earnings picture is less compelling. At $56,824, this program sits below both the state median ($57,242) and national median ($58,651), landing in the 40th percentile among Ohio's eight Information Science programs. More established programs like Cincinnati ($68,864) and Bowling Green ($60,359) command notably higher starting salaries. For context, Akron's admission rate of 71% and modest average SAT of 1088 suggest this serves a different student population than more selective competitors.

The value proposition here hinges on keeping debt minimal while building foundational skills. If your child can secure similar job outcomes as peers at pricier programs—and many tech employers do focus more on skills than pedigree—the low debt burden creates financial breathing room early in their career. But if they're competitive for admission at Cincinnati or Bowling Green, the $10,000-12,000 higher salaries at those programs would likely justify moderately higher debt loads.