Communication and Media Studies at Ashford University

The earnings pattern here demands immediate attention: graduates start strong at $58,089—outperforming 95% of communication programs both nationally and in California—but see their income plummet 28% to $41,621 by year four. That dramatic reversal is unusual enough to warrant serious questions about what's happening to this cohort after graduation.

Consider what you're paying for. The $37,188 debt load is twice California's state median for this program ($18,250), though it remains manageable against that initial $58,000 salary. The real concern isn't the debt itself but why earnings fall so sharply. Are graduates losing higher-paying jobs? Switching careers? Facing credential issues unique to Ashford's model? Without answers, you're betting on a first-year salary that historically hasn't held.

For comparison, Cal Poly SLO communication grads earn $62,183 with more typical growth trajectories, while USC and Pepperdine graduates in the high $40,000s show steadier patterns. If your child can access those alternatives—even with higher sticker prices—the predictable earnings progression may justify the investment. This program's decline from an excellent start to merely adequate earnings by year four makes it difficult to recommend confidently, despite the strong initial numbers that place it among California's top performers.