Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Youngstown State University

Youngstown State's liberal arts program ranks near the bottom quartile both nationally and within Ohio, with first-year earnings of $31,492 falling significantly short of the state median of $40,556. For context, Ohio State graduates in this same field earn $43,393—nearly $12,000 more annually—while the program's outcomes trail even regional Kent State campuses by roughly $10,000.

The debt picture creates additional pressure. Students graduate owing $31,000 (matching the state median but above the national average), meaning they'll carry nearly a full year's salary in debt. With modest 19% earnings growth over four years, graduates reach only $37,450 by year four—still well below where many comparable Ohio programs start. A third of students receive Pell grants, suggesting many families are particularly debt-sensitive.

This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker if your child has specific reasons to attend YSU—perhaps local ties, cost advantages, or programs beyond liberal arts—but the pure financial return on this particular major lags meaningfully behind other Ohio options. If a general liberal arts degree is the goal, exploring programs at Ohio's higher-performing public universities would likely improve the earnings trajectory without necessarily increasing debt loads.