Communication and Media Studies at Barry University

Florida's communication programs show wide variation in outcomes, with top performers like DeVry's Florida programs producing graduates earning $47,622 in their first year—nearly $13,000 more than what similar programs across the state typically generate. Barry's estimated $34,720 first-year earnings align with both state and national medians, suggesting middle-of-the-pack performance in a crowded field of 36 competing programs.

The estimated $26,000 debt load sits above Florida's median for communication programs ($21,677), though the 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable by most standards. For context, nearly half of Barry's students receive Pell grants, indicating the school serves many families for whom even moderate debt requires careful consideration. At this earnings level, monthly loan payments would consume roughly 8-9% of gross income under standard repayment plans—doable, but leaving less cushion than programs with stronger earnings trajectories.

The challenge here is predictability. Communication programs in Florida produce vastly different results, and without school-specific data, you're making a financial commitment based on sector-wide averages rather than Barry's actual track record. If your child is set on this major at this school, the estimated numbers aren't alarming, but understanding why some Florida programs produce 40% higher earnings while others lag significantly behind would be worth investigating before committing.