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Liberal Arts · Liberal Arts & Humanities Rank #119 of 424

Liberal Arts & Humanitiesat Ohio State University-Main Campus

Graduates earn $43,393/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Liberal Arts & Humanities average. Base-case 10-year earnings $497K; scenarios range from $473K to $497K depending on AI disruption.

Columbus, OH Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
38 AT RISK
38
Optimistic
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,393
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$497K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Low
16% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Ohio State

First-year earnings of $43,393 at Ohio State University-Main Campus come in 17% above the national median of $37,172 for Liberal Arts & Humanities programs.

At 9.7x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

With only 0% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 5%. Career paths for Liberal Arts & Humanities are among the more automation-resistant we measure.

With first-year pay of $43,393 far exceeding the $19,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #119 out of 424 programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus's Liberal Arts & Humanities offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $43,393 to $49,273 over five years (14% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$473K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple9.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$497K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple9.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$497K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple9.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Ohio State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Postsecondary teachers, all other
+1.8% 10-yr growth · 13,500 openings/yr
$78,490/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Liberal Arts & Humanities

How Ohio State stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MA · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
DePaul University
IL · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$84K
1-yr earn
3.8x
ROI
Molloy College
NY · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
3.9x
ROI
Bentley University
MA · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$72K
1-yr earn
3.4x
ROI
Champlain College
VT · Private nonprofit
38
DW Score
$71K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
Also at Ohio State

Other top programs at Ohio State

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ohio State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Liberal Arts & Humanities offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Liberal Arts & Humanities trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Liberal Arts & Humanities at Ohio State

How does Ohio State University-Main Campus's Liberal Arts & Humanities program score?

This program scores 38/100 — on the lower end for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.