Location: Youngstown, OH•In-State Tuition: $10,791•Out-of-State Tuition: $11,151•Admission Rate: 80%•Avg SAT: 1055
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$38,871
Est. from OH median (9 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$20,565
Est. from OH median (6 programs)

Analysis

Business associate's degrees in Ohio typically produce first-year earnings around $38,900, and if this pattern holds at Youngstown State, graduates would face an estimated debt load of $20,565—that's about 53 cents of debt for every dollar earned in year one. While this debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming, the borrowing appears higher than the national benchmark for business associate's programs, where median debt sits at just $13,437.

What's worth noting is that these estimates place Youngstown State at Ohio's median for both earnings and debt in this field. Similar programs across the state show first-year earnings ranging from this $38,900 baseline to $45,200 at James A. Rhodes State College. That suggests location, internship opportunities, or program structure can meaningfully impact outcomes even within the same credential type.

The practical concern here is that an associate's degree in business may limit earning potential compared to a bachelor's—the national data confirms these programs cluster in the mid-to-high $30,000s for starting pay. If your child is debt-averse and wants to enter the workforce quickly, peer programs suggest this path could work with manageable borrowing. But if career advancement matters more than speed, consider whether the additional investment in a four-year degree would deliver stronger long-term returns, particularly since the debt burden here is already trending above the national norm for two-year business programs.

Where Youngstown State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Youngstown State University (estimated ±10%)Other business/commerce programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (31 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown$10,791$38,871*—$20,565*—
James A. Rhodes State CollegeLima$4,657$45,238*$37,556—*—
Kent State University at AshtabulaAshtabula$7,272$38,871*$37,721$20,565*0.53
Kent State University at East LiverpoolEast Liverpool$7,272$38,871*$37,721$20,565*0.53
Kent State University at TrumbullWarren$7,272$38,871*$37,721$20,565*0.53
Kent State University at SalemSalem$7,272$38,871*$37,721$20,565*0.53
National Median—$36,591*—$13,437*0.37
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Youngstown State University, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 9 similar programs in OH. Actual outcomes may vary.