Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Akron Main Campus

The University of Akron's Liberal Arts associate degree creates an unusual puzzle: graduates earn well above the national average but lag behind Ohio peers, all while carrying debt more than twice the national median. First-year earnings of $31,901 beat 81% of similar programs nationwide, yet land only at the 40th percentile within Ohio—where several community and regional campuses produce graduates earning $37,000 to $52,000 annually.

The debt load tells the real story here. At $23,112, this program costs significantly more than Ohio's median ($17,500) and dramatically more than the national benchmark ($10,950). That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 isn't catastrophic, but it's steep for an associate degree in a general studies field. Compare that to Marion Technical College, where similar graduates earn $52,000—63% more than Akron's figure—likely with lower community college debt. The 17% earnings growth to year four helps, but doesn't fundamentally change the value equation.

For Ohio families, this is a premium-priced option in a crowded field where better alternatives exist. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend Akron specifically—transfer agreements, location constraints, or a clear bachelor's degree pathway—the combination of above-average debt and middle-of-the-pack state performance suggests looking at Ohio's regional campuses or technical colleges first. The moderate sample size offers reasonable confidence in these numbers.