Communication and Media Studies at Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Eastern New Mexico's Communication and Media Studies program shows essentially flat earnings over time—graduates earn around $33,000 whether they're one year or four years out. While this falls slightly below the national median of $35,000, it actually performs respectably within New Mexico, landing at the 60th percentile among the state's three programs. The debt load of $20,000 is notably lower than the national median of $25,000, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60.

The real concern here isn't the debt—it's the stagnant career trajectory and limited sample size. Most graduates should expect earnings in the low-to-mid $30,000s without much growth in the first few years. That's workable if you're staying in New Mexico where living costs are reasonable, but it leaves little financial cushion. The small cohort size (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year, making it harder to predict your own outcome.

For families considering this program, the math works if your student plans to stay in the region and can keep borrowing near or below that $20,000 median. Beyond that threshold, the relatively modest earnings make debt repayment more challenging. This isn't a path to quick financial independence, but it won't bury graduates in debt either.