Communication and Media Studies at Chestnut Hill College

The small sample size here demands caution, but the trajectory tells a compelling story: Chestnut Hill graduates start rough at $28,212—well below both Pennsylvania's $32,386 median and the national average—but by year four, they're earning $50,387, a 79% jump that puts them ahead of the state median and competitive with programs at schools like Saint Joseph's. That's the highest growth rate we typically see in communications programs, though with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, a few high earners could be skewing these numbers significantly.

The $27,000 debt load matches Pennsylvania's median exactly and sits slightly above the national benchmark, making that first-year salary particularly tight—you're looking at nearly a dollar of debt for every dollar earned initially. For a family banking on that four-year earning potential, this could work out well, but there's real financial stress in those early years. The college serves a population where 47% receive Pell grants, and that first-year figure suggests many graduates may be taking whatever job they can find immediately rather than holding out for better opportunities.

If your child thrives in smaller environments and can weather lean early years—perhaps with family support or minimal living expenses—this program might deliver solid mid-career returns. But that 16th percentile national ranking and the uncertainty around such limited data should make you think twice before choosing this over more established Pennsylvania programs with proven track records.