Communication and Media Studies at Fayetteville State University

The small sample size here is a real red flag—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could swing dramatically with just a few data points. That said, what we're seeing isn't promising: graduates start at $24,210, which ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for communication majors and trails the North Carolina median by $8,000. Even after four years, when earnings climb to $36,923, they're still below what typical communication graduates in the state earn right out of school.

The debt burden compounds the problem. At $29,417, graduates owe more than their first year's salary—a concerning threshold that makes loan payments challenging. While the 53% earnings growth over four years looks positive on paper, it's largely recovering from an unusually low starting point rather than exceptional career trajectory. Compare this to UNC-Chapel Hill's $43,348 or NC State's $39,889 starting salaries, which offer far more financial breathing room from day one.

For a field where unpaid internships and entry-level media jobs are common, starting this far behind the curve matters. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend Fayetteville State specifically—strong regional connections or particular program strengths—other North Carolina public universities appear to offer substantially better return on investment for communication majors. The accessible 80% admission rate and high Pell grant percentage indicate FSU serves an important mission, but these earnings suggest this particular major faces steep headwinds.