ROI Major

Human Resources Management and Services at Zane State College

OH · Associate's Degree · CIP 52.10

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Human Resources Management and Services degree from Zane State College earn a median salary of $39,593 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OH, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $43,943. The degree typically pays for itself in 27.5 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$29,913

Typical Career

$39,593

Top Performers

$60,059

Estimated break-even: 27.5 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$264

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,299. Most students can comfortably afford about a $264 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Ohio buys what costs $0.90 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Retail Trade.

Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 35.5%
Manufacturing 11.6%
Retail Trade 7.5%

Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$43,943

Nominal: $39,593 in Ohio (COL 90.1% of national avg) · 11% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

27.5 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $26,082 $34,970 $43,151
5 Years After Graduation $29,913 $39,593 $60,059
10 Years After Graduation $32,534 $46,663 $70,184

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $39,593 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OH, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $39,593 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9010) = $43,943 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates of the Human Resources Management and Services program at Zane State College can expect a steady earnings trajectory over time. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $34,970, increasing to $39,593 five years post-graduation, and reaching $46,663 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median earnings five years after graduation equate to $43,943.4 nationally, indicating that while initial salaries may be lower, there is potential for growth that aligns with national trends, particularly given Ohio's cost of living index of 0.901.

In terms of industry placement, graduates predominantly enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, which accounts for 35.5% of employment, followed by additional roles in the same sector at 16.8%, and Manufacturing at 16.0%. The estimated break-even point for pursuing this degree versus a high school-only path is approximately 27.5 years, suggesting that while the initial investment in education may take time to recoup, the long-term benefits in terms of salary growth and job placement in stable industries may provide a favorable return on investment for those committed to a career in human resources.

Compare with Another School

See how the Human Resources Management and Services degree at Zane State College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Ready to apply?

Start your application for Human Resources Management and Services at Zane State College.

Apply to Zane State College

Explore More

Other Degrees at Zane State College

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.