Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University's communication program starts graduates at a notably low salary—about $7,000 below the Florida median and in the bottom quarter of state programs. That first-year figure of $26,926 is problematic even with the relatively modest $18,492 debt load, though the 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio is more manageable than many media programs nationally. What's more concerning is that even after four years, when earnings climb to $37,865, graduates still lag behind what peers from Southeastern, FIU, and Miami earn right out of the gate.

The 41% earnings growth sounds impressive until you realize it's largely catching up rather than pulling ahead. By year four, FAU graduates earn roughly what the Florida median is at year one. Compare this to the top-tier Florida programs where graduates start in the mid-$30,000s and presumably grow from there. The positive spin is that debt here runs about $500 below the state median, so students aren't overinvesting relative to local alternatives.

For families considering this program, the question is whether FAU's lower tuition justifies starting significantly behind peers from competing Florida schools. If your child can access UF's online program or gain admission to FIU, those appear to offer better immediate returns. FAU might make sense if it's dramatically cheaper, but entering the media industry with below-market earnings creates a difficult first few years financially.