Business/Managerial Economics at Youngstown State University

Business economics programs in Ohio cluster tightly around $60,000 in first-year earnings, and Youngstown State appears positioned right at this state median based on comparable programs. That puts it at the 75th percentile nationally—a meaningful advantage over the $53,000 typical for this degree elsewhere in the country. The estimated $21,000 debt load, if accurate, creates a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio that most financial advisors would consider reasonable.

The key uncertainty here is sample size. Because the Department of Education suppressed this program's actual outcomes data, we're working from estimates derived from other Ohio business economics programs. The good news: Youngstown State matches the performance profile of much more selective institutions like Miami University and Ohio State. The caveat: we don't know if YSU's specific graduates achieve these results, or if they're clustering at the lower end of the state's range.

For families prioritizing cost and practicality, the math looks sound assuming the estimates hold. A business economics degree that pays for itself in just over four months of work—if that's what YSU delivers—represents solid value at an accessible institution. But given the data limitations, verify placement rates and typical employers for recent graduates before committing. The difference between matching state medians and falling short could mean $10,000+ in annual earnings.