Communication and Media Studies at Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown's Communication and Media Studies program starts slow but demonstrates impressive income growth potential. That $31,000 starting salary sits below both national and Pennsylvania medians, but graduates see a 57% earnings jump within four years, reaching nearly $49,000. This trajectory stands out in a field where many programs show more modest income progression.

The state context matters here: while this program ranks at just the 40th percentile among Pennsylvania's 63 communication programs initially, the four-year earnings suggest graduates find their footing relatively quickly. Still, the gap with top state programs is substantial—Penn and Villanova graduates earn over $50,000 right out of college. The $26,000 debt burden is manageable at 0.84 times first-year earnings, tracking close to both national and state averages for the field.

The core question is whether your child can weather that first year or two of below-average earnings. Communication degrees often require time to build networks and gain experience before income accelerates. If your student has financial runway—whether through family support or minimal living expenses—and shows persistence in building their career, the growth trajectory here is encouraging. But if they need strong immediate earnings to manage debt payments, programs with higher starting salaries would reduce that initial financial pressure.