Communication and Media Studies at College of Charleston

College of Charleston's Communication and Media Studies program outperforms both state and national peers while keeping debt manageable. Starting salaries of $36,903 jump to over $50,000 by year four—a 36% increase that suggests graduates are successfully climbing into more senior communications roles. Among South Carolina's 25 programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing only Furman's notably stronger outcomes but beating University of South Carolina-Columbia despite its flagship status.

The $23,250 debt load sits below both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 that graduates typically manage within their first year. This matters because many communications majors start in entry-level positions before advancing—the salary trajectory here shows that progression is actually happening, not just hoped for. With a robust sample size of 100+ graduates, these aren't fluky numbers.

For a communications degree at an accessible school (72% admission rate), this program delivers solid returns. Your student gets Charleston's creative economy connections and reasonable debt, with earnings that grow meaningfully rather than stagnate. It's not going to match Furman's private school premium, but it represents a safer bet than many communications programs where graduates struggle to break $35,000 even years after graduation.