Communication and Media Studies at Baylor University

Baylor's Communication and Media Studies program delivers something rare: graduates who significantly out-earn their peers without taking on excessive debt. First-year earnings of $43,740 sit well above both the Texas median ($33,906) and national median ($34,959), placing graduates in the 95th percentile nationally. That's a $10,000 advantage right out of the gate—and the gap widens from there, with earnings climbing 22% by year four.

The debt picture reinforces the value proposition. At $23,860, graduates carry slightly less than both state and national medians, yielding a comfortable 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio. This means students finish with manageable debt while earning substantially more than peers from most Texas programs. Among the state's 64 communication programs, Baylor ranks in the 80th percentile—trailing only UT Austin and a few specialized institutions, while matching or exceeding flagship programs like Texas A&M.

For parents weighing a private university price tag, this data suggests Baylor's program delivers measurable returns. The combination of strong initial placement, solid earnings growth, and reasonable debt levels makes this a defensible investment, particularly for students serious about leveraging the university's network and reputation in Texas media markets.