Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at California State University-San Marcos

At $22,567 in first-year earnings, CSU San Marcos graduates with this degree earn below both California's median ($24,594) and the national average ($24,702) for communication disorders programs. More concerning, the school ranks in the 95th percentile nationally for debt—meaning nearly all comparable programs burden students with less—while its earnings land at just the 40th percentile among California programs. Looking at other CSU campuses, their communication disorders graduates typically earn $28,000-$35,000, making San Marcos an outlier within its own system.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly year to year. Still, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 is manageable compared to many programs, and San Marcos serves a substantial population of Pell Grant recipients who might not have better local options. If your child is set on speech-language pathology or audiology as a career path, remember that most positions require a master's degree anyway—bachelor's earnings are temporary.

This looks like a stepping-stone degree rather than a destination, so evaluate it accordingly. If graduate school is the plan and San Marcos offers in-state tuition and proximity to home, the modest debt load makes it viable. But if your child expects to work immediately after the bachelor's, comparing offers from CSU Long Beach or East Bay would be prudent—their graduates earn 30-55% more right out of the gate.