Graduates of Central State University earn median 4-year earnings of $42,843, placing Central State University in the 2.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central State University in the 25.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to OH's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential). Azimuth ranks Central State University #1383 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Central State University's program portfolio centers on Business, which shapes the institution's earnings profile. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 143 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $44,662, running 0.7× the national benchmark for the field. Criminal Justice enrolls 112 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $46,914, at 0.8× benchmark. Education, General and Psychology, General round out the largest cohorts, with Psychology, General graduates earning $39,628 at 0.8× benchmark. Journalism graduates earn $36,311, also at 0.6× benchmark. This concentration in Business and related applied fields anchors the institution's long-term financial outcomes and positions graduates for stable career pathways aligned with regional labor-market demand.
Graduates of Central State University earn median 4-year earnings of $42,843, placing Central State University in the 2.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central State University in the 25.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to OH's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential). Azimuth ranks Central State University #1383 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Central State University's program portfolio centers on Business, which shapes the institution's earnings profile. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 143 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $44,662, running 0.7× the national benchmark for the field. Criminal Justice enrolls 112 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $46,914, at 0.8× benchmark. Education, General and Psychology, General round out the largest cohorts, with Psychology, General graduates earning $39,628 at 0.8× benchmark. Journalism graduates earn $36,311, also at 0.6× benchmark. This concentration in Business and related applied fields anchors the institution's long-term financial outcomes and positions graduates for stable career pathways aligned with regional labor-market demand.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of Central State University earn median 4-year earnings of $42,843, placing Central State University in the 2.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central State University in the 25.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to OH's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential). Azimuth ranks Central State University #1383 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Central State University's program portfolio centers on Business, which shapes the institution's earnings profile. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 143 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $44,662, running 0.7× the national benchmark for the field. Criminal Justice enrolls 112 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $46,914, at 0.8× benchmark. Education, General and Psychology, General round out the largest cohorts, with Psychology, General graduates earning $39,628 at 0.8× benchmark. Journalism graduates earn $36,311, also at 0.6× benchmark. This concentration in Business and related applied fields anchors the institution's long-term financial outcomes and positions graduates for stable career pathways aligned with regional labor-market demand.
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates of Central State University earn median 4-year earnings of $42,843, placing Central State University in the 2.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central State University in the 25.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to OH's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential). Azimuth ranks Central State University #1383 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Central State University's program portfolio centers on Business, which shapes the institution's earnings profile. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 143 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $44,662, running 0.7× the national benchmark for the field. Criminal Justice enrolls 112 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $46,914, at 0.8× benchmark. Education, General and Psychology, General round out the largest cohorts, with Psychology, General graduates earning $39,628 at 0.8× benchmark. Journalism graduates earn $36,311, also at 0.6× benchmark. This concentration in Business and related applied fields anchors the institution's long-term financial outcomes and positions graduates for stable career pathways aligned with regional labor-market demand.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Central State University's program mix is anchored in Business and applied professional fields. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 143 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice, Education, General, Psychology, General, and Journalism. The institution offers 16 programs across 0 ranked fields, serving roughly 428 students annually. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional pathways. Social Work leads with median earnings of $47,853 four years after enrollment across 14 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice with $46,914 and 143 graduates. Business/Commerce, General graduates earn $44,662, while Psychology, General and Journalism round out the highest-earning programs with $39,628 and $36,311 respectively. These programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand career fields immediately after completion. The program portfolio emphasizes practical, career-aligned preparation across business administration, accounting, management, and related applied disciplines. This concentration in Business (representing 32% of graduates) alongside Education and Engineering positions Central State University as a regional institution focused on workforce readiness and employment outcomes. The supply and demand for college graduates provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with regional labor-market demand and career stability.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
