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

A first-year salary of $24,851 ranks this program in the bottom 10% statewide—significantly below Ohio's $40,556 median for Liberal Arts graduates and roughly $12,000 under even the national average. This means Akron students in this major earn less than peers at 90% of Ohio's 61 programs offering the same degree, including nearby state universities like Kent State ($41,205) and Ohio State ($43,393). While the debt load of $31,044 sits close to state norms, it creates a 1.25 debt-to-earnings ratio that translates to roughly 15 months of gross salary—a meaningful financial burden when starting around minimum wage levels.

The concerning factor here isn't just the absolute earnings number, but the significant gap between what this program delivers and what comparable Ohio institutions achieve. Students at Xavier and Antioch—admittedly more selective schools—earn nearly double what Akron Liberal Arts graduates make in year one. Even Ohio State's far larger program produces outcomes 74% higher. This suggests something specific to Akron's Liberal Arts pathway is limiting early career prospects, whether that's geographic constraints, alumni networks, or career preparation resources.

For families considering this program: the numbers indicate substantial financial risk. Unless your student has compelling reasons to attend Akron specifically—strong scholarship aid that dramatically reduces debt, or clear career plans that make year-one earnings less relevant—exploring alternative Ohio public universities would likely improve the return on investment.