Communication and Media Studies at DeVry University-Virginia

DeVry's Communication and Media Studies graduates earn substantially more than peers at most Virginia schools—$47,622 places them in the 80th percentile statewide, nearly matching what UVA graduates earn ($47,368) and exceeding JMU and Virginia Tech grads. The problem is the price tag: at nearly $57,000 in median debt, students are paying more than double what communications majors typically borrow ($25,000 nationally, $25,250 in Virginia). That's the highest debt load among Virginia's communication programs, despite the open admission policy and significant population of Pell Grant recipients.

The earnings plateau is also concerning—graduates actually see a slight dip from year one to year four, suggesting limited career advancement in the early years. While the strong initial salary helps make the debt manageable (the 1.19 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic), this program costs considerably more than Virginia's public alternatives that deliver similar outcomes. Virginia Tech graduates, for instance, likely carry far less debt while earning comparable salaries in a market where communications degrees don't typically command premium pay.

For families comparing options, the math is straightforward: if your child can get similar earnings with half the debt at a state school, that's probably the better investment, even if it means a more competitive admissions process.