Education at Youngstown State University

Teaching positions in Ohio typically start around $37,000-$38,000, and peer programs suggest Youngstown State's education graduates land right in this range. The estimated $24,000 debt load is actually lighter than what most education majors carry—both the national median ($26,500) and Ohio average ($27,000) run higher. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65, meaning graduates would owe about two-thirds of their first year's salary, which is workable for a field with predictable union salary schedules.

The challenge is that these figures come from similar programs statewide rather than Youngstown State's actual outcomes, so there's less certainty about what this specific program delivers. However, education is one of the more standardized career paths—Ohio teaching licenses require the same credentials regardless of where you earn your degree, and union contracts create consistent pay scales. The estimated earnings here align closely with what nearby Kent State and John Carroll graduates report earning, suggesting the projection is reasonable.

For a family considering this investment, the lighter debt burden matters more than small earnings differences between schools. If your child is committed to teaching in Ohio, Youngstown State appears positioned to prepare them without the $27,000+ debt loads typical at other state programs, though you're accepting that these are educated estimates rather than verified outcomes from this campus.