Communication and Media Studies at Franklin Pierce University

Franklin Pierce's communications graduates earn roughly $27,000 in their first year—about $12,000 less than the median New Hampshire communications graduate and $8,000 below the national median. Among the 10 New Hampshire schools offering this program, Franklin Pierce ranks dead last in the 10th percentile. While the debt load of $27,000 matches the state median, it's effectively doubled when paired with such low earnings, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1:1 that would require careful budgeting to manage.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year, but the gap between Franklin Pierce and nearby alternatives is stark enough to warrant attention. Saint Anselm and UNH graduates from the same major earn over $40,000—nearly 60% more—while Plymouth State graduates still clear $31,000. Even accounting for statistical noise, Franklin Pierce would need to improve earnings by at least $5,000 to approach regional competitiveness.

For a family considering this program, the question is whether Franklin Pierce offers something unique worth the earnings tradeoff. At nearly triple the cost of an in-state public option (when factoring in tuition differences), that first-year salary makes loan repayment challenging and delays financial independence. Unless your child has received substantial merit aid making the net cost comparable to public alternatives, the other New Hampshire programs deliver significantly better outcomes for communications majors.