Communication and Media Studies at Dean College

Drawing on data from comparable Massachusetts programs, Dean College's communication and media studies degree carries an estimated $26,000 in debt—roughly median for similar bachelor's programs—for first-year earnings that track with the state average of $36,380. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71, which means manageable monthly loan payments if your child lands steady work in their first year. The challenge? Top Massachusetts programs in this field—Boston College, Northeastern, BU—produce graduates earning $45,000 to $55,000 annually, creating a $10,000 to $20,000 earnings gap that compounds over a career.

The real question is whether Dean's smaller program (small enough that the Department of Education can't publish graduate-specific outcomes) provides the networking and placement support to compete with larger programs that have established industry pipelines. In communication fields where internships and connections often matter as much as credentials, program size and alumni reach can significantly impact early career outcomes. The 74% admission rate suggests Dean is accessible, but you'll want to scrutinize placement rates, internship partnerships, and where recent graduates actually land jobs—information the college should provide directly since federal data can't.