Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Xavier University, Kent State University at Kent and University of Cincinnati are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Xavier University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,064, College Scorecard. Terra State Community College, Youngstown State University and University of Toledo award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Ohio: 286, 228 and 204 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 80 Ohio colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 11,866 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xavier University Cincinnati Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,064 | 44 | 69% | $31,119 | $23,250 |
| 2 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,205 | 81 | 64% | — | $31,963 |
| 3 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,745 | 35 | 75% | — | $21,067 |
| 4 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,492 | 228 | 50% | — | $31,000 |
| 5 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,620 | 31 | 64% | — | $31,000 |
| 6 | Antioch University Yellow Springs Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,487 | 13 | — | — | $29,832 |
| 7 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $43,393 | 15 | 88% | — | $21,250 |
| 8 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,556 | 1 | 80% | — | $31,000 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marion Technical College Marion Public · Associate degree | $51,927 | 110 | 31% | — | $12,812 |
| 2 | Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $43,602 | 46 | 75% | $21,122 | $20,199 |
| 3 | Ohio University Athens Public · Associate degree | $36,942 | 174 | 65% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Kent State University at Stark North Canton Public · Associate degree | $34,969 | 891 | 37% | — | $20,500 |
| 5 | Owens Community College Perrysburg Public · Associate degree | $33,847 | 841 | 35% | — | $21,024 |
| 6 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron Public · Associate degree | $31,901 | 207 | 52% | — | $23,112 |
| 7 | Edison State Community College Piqua Public · Associate degree | $31,496 | 185 | 38% | — | $12,000 |
| 8 | Southern State Community College Hillsboro Public · Associate degree | $29,137 | 118 | 37% | — | $10,993 |
| 9 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland Public · Associate degree | $28,760 | 2,023 | 31% | — | $11,000 |
| 10 | Sinclair Community College Dayton Public · Associate degree | $28,086 | 242 | 41% | — | $12,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Ohio
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terra State Community College Fremont Public | 286 | Not reported |
| 2 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public | 228 | $31,492 |
| 3 | University of Toledo Toledo Public | 204 | Not reported |
| 4 | Belmont College St Clairsville Public | 124 | Not reported |
| 5 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public | 81 | $41,205 |
| 6 | Zane State College Zanesville Public | 69 | Not reported |
| 7 | Ashland University Ashland Private not-for-profit | 51 | Not reported |
| 8 | Tiffin University Tiffin Private not-for-profit | 50 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Rio Grande Rio Grande Private not-for-profit | 47 | Not reported |
| 10 | Washington State College of Ohio Marietta Public | 47 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 70 Ohio colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Terra State Community College (286 graduates a year), Youngstown State University (228 graduates a year) and University of Toledo (204 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 80 Ohio colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, Xavier University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,064, College Scorecard. Kent State University at Kent and University of Cincinnati follow. By degrees awarded, Terra State Community College is the largest, with 286 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Xavier University tops the list at $47,064. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Ohio is $79,070 (median $75,680), across about 5,670 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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