Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at Appalachian State University

The dramatic earnings jump from $12,383 to $49,472 tells an important story: most Appalachian State graduates in this program aren't working in their field immediately after graduation, but once they do, they earn competitively. That first-year number places this program in the 10th percentile statewide, but by year four, graduates are earning nearly double the North Carolina median of $18,452 for this major. The $19,875 in debt is manageable given those eventual earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio under 50% by the fourth year.

The catch? This data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these patterns may not be reliable predictors. Communication disorders typically requires graduate school for clinical positions, which explains both the delayed earnings and why Western Carolina's $24,521 first-year figure likely reflects different career paths or geographic factors. If your child plans to pursue speech-language pathology or audiology, expect to treat this bachelor's as a stepping stone rather than a terminal degree—the real career starts after a master's.

For families specifically comparing North Carolina programs, Appalachian State's lower debt load ($19,875 versus the state median of $21,993) matters more than that weak first-year showing. Just understand you're likely supporting your graduate through at least one lean year before they either enter the workforce in a related field or continue to graduate school.