Zane State College
Zane State College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Zane State College at a Glance
Zane State College is a public community college in Zanesville and Cambridge, Ohio, United States. It was established in 1969 as Muskingum Area Technical College. It offers over 40 associate degree programs and certificates, workshops, and occupational skills training. Zane State College shares its main campus with Ohio University – Zanesville. High school students taking courses through Zane State College make up nearly 60% of the student enrollment count.
1969
57 years old
1,671
Identity
Is Zane State College Worth It?
Zane State College offers moderate value at $8,062/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $35,006, which is 35% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 49% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $6,834 is manageable at just 20% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
How Zane State College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #10 of 27 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Florida College | 100 | $804 | $33,929 |
| #2 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #3 | Haskell Indian Nations University | 90 | $3,134 | $37,043 |
| #4 | American Samoa Community College | 89 | $3,386 | $30,087 |
| #5 | Grays Harbor College | 75 | $4,783 | $40,865 |
| #6 | Bay Mills Community College | 74 | $3,073 | $30,048 |
| #10 | Zane State College | 54 | $8,062 | $35,006 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Zane State College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Zane State College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Zane State College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $8,062/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in OH
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Zanesville, OH
- Student Body
- 715 students
- Graduation Rate
- 49%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $8,062
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $35,006
- Median Student Debt
- $6,834