Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Akron Wayne College

Starting at $27,448 after graduation, this associate's program lands well below both Ohio's $37,121 median and the national average of $33,977 for similar programs. Among Ohio business associate degrees, it ranks in just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of comparable programs in the state produce better outcomes. The gap is substantial: top Ohio programs like Sinclair Community College and Cincinnati State place graduates earning over $45,000, nearly double what Wayne College graduates start at.

The earnings trajectory does improve—graduates see 29% growth to $35,522 by year four—but they're still chasing parity with where other programs start. The debt load of $24,396 creates additional pressure, particularly when combined with those first-year earnings. While this ratio of 0.89 isn't catastrophic, it's based on below-average earnings, making repayment more challenging than the number alone suggests.

The small sample size here warrants genuine caution—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a few outliers could skew the picture significantly. Still, the pattern is clear enough: for an in-state business associate's degree in Ohio, this program underperforms. Unless Wayne College offers unique geographic convenience or support services worth the earnings tradeoff, Ohio families have stronger options at similar community colleges across the state.