Communication and Media Studies at DeVry University-Texas

DeVry University-Texas graduates in Communication and Media Studies earn $47,622 right out of school—putting them in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among Texas communication programs. That's 36% above the national median and 40% above what typical Texas grads in this field earn. These are genuinely strong outcomes for a communications degree, comparable to flagship programs like UT Austin.

The challenge is the price tag. At nearly $57,000 in median debt—more than double the national average for this major—graduates face a debt load that essentially equals their first-year salary. Most communication programs carry around $25,000 in debt, meaning DeVry students are shouldering an extra $32,000 for earnings that, while good, are only marginally better than University of Phoenix-Texas graduates who likely paid less. The earnings also show no growth over four years, a pattern that raises questions about long-term career trajectory.

For families comfortable taking on significant debt for access to a program with proven placement outcomes in the Texas market, this could work—DeVry's structure clearly delivers competitive starting salaries. But most families would be better served comparing costs carefully against state schools like UT Permian Basin, which produces similar earnings ($46,203) at likely lower debt levels. The premium you're paying here buys strong initial outcomes, but the debt burden is real and lasting.