Communication and Media Studies at Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific's Communication and Media Studies program shows earnings that lag behind most California alternatives, ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide despite relatively moderate debt. That first-year median of $31,366 falls roughly $7,000 below the state median, a meaningful gap when you consider that California students typically benefit from the state's higher-paying media markets in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

The 57% earnings growth to $49,267 by year four is encouraging and outpaces typical wage growth patterns. Combined with manageable debt of $22,412 (below both national and state medians), the program's debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 is workable. However, this improvement doesn't fully close the gap—graduates still earn less at year four than what peers from top California programs make right out of college. The admission rate of 79% and average SAT of 1155 suggest APU serves a broad student population, which may partially explain the earnings differential.

The major caveat here: sample size is small, meaning one or two graduates could skew these figures significantly. For a family choosing between APU and alternatives like Cal Poly SLO (where communications grads earn $62,000) or even mid-tier UC campuses, the $20,000+ earnings gap matters. If APU is offering substantial merit aid or if the faith-based mission aligns with your family's values, it could still work. But purely from a financial return perspective, California offers stronger options for this major.