Communication and Media Studies at Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay's Communication and Media Studies program starts graduates at a concerning $25,643—$8,700 below the national median and nearly $2,000 under the Tennessee median. That first-year figure places this program in the bottom 5% nationally, a significant red flag when you're borrowing $25,000 to earn what amounts to poverty-level wages. While the program serves a student body where nearly half receive Pell grants, suggesting it's a pathway for first-generation college students, the initial financial struggle is real.

The one bright spot is impressive earnings growth: by year four, graduates reach $39,844, a 55% jump that brings them closer to competitive levels. However, this still lags behind Tennessee's flagship programs at UT-Knoxville and UT-Chattanooga, which both pay over $33,000 from the start. The 40th percentile ranking among Tennessee communication programs means you're looking at middle-of-the-pack outcomes in a state where several schools offer substantially better returns.

With debt nearly equal to first-year earnings, graduates face tight budgets early on. If your child can get into UT-Knoxville or Belmont—where starting salaries are 60% higher—that's worth the effort. If Austin Peay is the accessible option and your child is committed to communications, understand they'll likely need family support or a second job during those first years after graduation before earnings improve.