Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at College of Our Lady of the Elms

The small graduating class makes precise conclusions difficult, but the numbers here tell an unusually positive story. Elms graduates in communication disorders earn $31,890 initially—beating both the Massachusetts median ($31,292) and landing in the 87th percentile nationally. More impressive is the four-year trajectory: earnings jump to $55,335, a 74% increase that suggests many graduates successfully move into speech-language pathology or clinical roles. The $27,000 debt load sits just above state norms but well below national medians for this field, creating a manageable 0.85 debt-to-earnings ratio that improves dramatically as careers progress.

What's notable is that this Catholic liberal arts college, despite its high acceptance rate and modest test scores, outperforms several larger state universities in Massachusetts for this specific program. The 60th percentile state ranking is solid but not exceptional—schools like Worcester State show stronger initial outcomes—yet the earnings growth pattern indicates Elms graduates are finding their footing after that first year. The substantial Pell grant population (42%) suggests the program successfully serves students who need strong financial outcomes.

The caveat matters: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a handful of successful or struggling individuals can skew these figures significantly. But if you're confident your child wants to pursue speech pathology and Elms offers the right environment, the financial picture looks considerably better than most communication disorders programs nationwide.