Communication and Media Studies at East Central University

East Central University's Communication and Media Studies graduates face a sobering financial reality: earning just $24,638 one year after graduation—about $7,000 less than the Oklahoma median for the program and nearly $10,000 below the national average. This places the program in the bottom 5% nationally, though within Oklahoma's communication programs it performs slightly better at the 25th percentile. The debt load of roughly $24,500 is manageable in absolute terms, but when your first-year salary barely exceeds what you borrowed, the payback timeline stretches uncomfortably long.

The comparison to other Oklahoma schools is striking. University of Oklahoma graduates in this field earn nearly double ($45,009), while even Oklahoma Christian's program yields 16% higher starting salaries. Given that ECU serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (40%), these lower earnings particularly impact families who can least afford prolonged debt repayment.

For families considering this program, the question is whether there's a clear path to higher earnings in years two and beyond, or if these communication roles simply don't pay well in Ada's regional job market. At a 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio with a sub-$25,000 starting salary, your graduate will need significant income growth or family financial support to make the math work. If communication is the goal, the data suggests looking at OU, Oral Roberts, or Northeastern State for substantially better returns.