Communication and Media Studies at Bethune-Cookman University

The earnings trajectory here demands attention: while similar Florida communication programs suggest first-year earnings around $34,720, this program's **reported** four-year figure drops to $23,937. That's a concerning backward slide when most careers show growth over time, and it falls well below both state and national medians for the field. With an estimated $26,000 in debt based on comparable programs at Bethune-Cookman, your child would be starting their career earning roughly $10,000 less annually than typical Florida communication graduates.

The institutional profile provides important context. With a 100% admission rate and 77% of students receiving Pell grants, Bethune-Cookman serves a population that often faces systemic barriers to career advancement. The much lower four-year earnings could reflect those challenges rather than program quality alone. However, when Florida's top communication programs produce graduates earning $40,000-$47,000, there's a substantial gap that matters for loan repayment.

The practical reality: even using the more optimistic first-year estimate, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 is manageable but leaves little margin for error. If earnings follow the reported four-year trajectory, that ratio becomes far more problematic. Before committing, your family should understand specifically what career outcomes Bethune-Cookman's recent communication graduates have achieved and whether there are support systems in place to help students navigate from classroom to career. The numbers suggest this program carries meaningful financial risk compared to alternatives in Florida.