Communication and Media Studies at Ferrum College

The estimated $26,488 in debt for this Communication and Media Studies degree sits just above the state median, while projected earnings of $36,220 track exactly with what similar Virginia programs produce. That 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would be borrowing roughly nine months of their first-year salary—manageable territory that suggests this could work financially, though it's worth noting that top-tier programs in Virginia (like UVA and Virginia Tech) report outcomes 20-30% higher for their communications graduates.

What complicates the picture is Ferrum's 100% admission rate and the fact that 47% of students receive Pell grants. Open-access institutions serving economically vulnerable populations don't always see the same completion and employment outcomes as their selective peers, even when debt loads are similar. The estimates here assume graduates will land jobs at typical rates and earnings levels for Virginia communications majors—assumptions that may not hold if students face additional barriers to completion or career placement.

The practical question is whether your child has the support systems and resilience to complete this degree and launch a communications career. If they do, the debt level won't crush them. If they don't—and completion is uncertain at any open-enrollment school—even moderate debt becomes problematic. Visit campus, ask about completion rates and career services specifically for communications majors, and get concrete examples of where recent graduates are working.