Apparel and Textiles at University of Akron (The)
OH · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 19.09
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Apparel and Textiles degree from University of Akron (The) earn a median salary of $48,362 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OH, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $53,676. The degree typically pays for itself in 12.7 years.
Quick Insights
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
$35,920
Typical Career
$48,362
Top Performers
$60,672
Estimated break-even: 12.7 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$322
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,030. Most students can comfortably afford about a $322 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x 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, Educational Services, Manufacturing.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
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
$53,676
Nominal: $48,362 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).
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 | $25,070 | $33,917 | $44,971 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $35,920 | $48,362 | $60,672 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $42,371 | $60,508 | $89,616 |
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 $48,362 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)
= $48,362 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9010)
= $53,676 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates primarily enter sectors such as Health Care & Social Assistance (21.4%), Educational Services (14.8%), and Manufacturing (11.1%), reflecting a diverse range of opportunities. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 12.7 years, suggesting that while the initial investment in education may take time to pay off, the long-term benefits in terms of earnings and career options can be significant. Overall, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in Apparel and Textiles appears favorable, particularly when considering the potential for growth in earnings over time.
Compare with Another School
See how the Apparel and Textiles degree at University of Akron (The) stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at University of Akron (The)
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.