Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations at Youngstown State University

In Ohio, specialized marketing programs produce first-year earnings ranging from the mid-$30,000s at most schools, and Youngstown State appears to fall near that mark. Based on comparable programs nationally, graduates here likely start around $35,800, climbing modestly to about $38,900 by year four. That trajectory—a gain of roughly $3,000 over three years—suggests early career advancement may be limited. The estimated $25,250 in debt translates to a 0.71 ratio against first-year earnings, which is manageable but leaves little cushion if your child faces unexpected expenses or takes longer to secure work in their field.

What's concerning is the tepid earnings growth. While the debt load isn't outrageous compared to other marketing programs, the four-year earnings figure barely outpaces inflation from the starting salary. For a bachelor's degree from a school where a third of students receive Pell grants, families should ask whether this program offers sufficient career services, internship pipelines, or employer connections that might accelerate earnings beyond what peer programs deliver. The actual outcomes could be better or worse than these estimates suggest—small graduate cohorts mean the data is too thin to know.

If your child is set on marketing at Youngstown State, push the admissions office for actual placement outcomes and starting salary ranges. Without program-specific data, you're essentially betting that this school matches the national average rather than lagging behind it.