Communication and Media Studies at Elon University

Elon's Communication and Media Studies graduates earn $48,637 in their first year—nearly $16,000 more than the North Carolina median and outpacing even UNC-Chapel Hill's program, which is nationally recognized. This 95th percentile ranking both nationally and within North Carolina is remarkable for a field often criticized for weak earnings, and the trajectory stays strong with earnings climbing to $60,125 by year four.

The debt picture requires some nuance. At $23,250, graduates carry slightly less than typical for this major, though still meaningful relative to first-year earnings. The 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in manageable territory—you're looking at roughly 6-8 months of gross income, not multiple years. Given that most Communication and Media Studies programs leave graduates earning in the low-to-mid $30,000s, Elon's premium positioning justifies this moderate debt load.

What makes this work is Elon's clear advantage in career placement and professional network. When your graduate earns $16,000 more annually than peers from other NC programs, that gap pays down the modest debt premium quickly. For a communications degree, this represents one of the strongest return-on-investment scenarios you'll find nationally. If your child is drawn to media work and Elon is affordable, the data supports this choice.