Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians at Full Sail University

Full Sail's audiovisual tech program costs significantly more than the national norm—$31,000 in debt versus a typical $18,247—putting it in the 95th percentile for debt nationally. That's a steep price for graduates earning around $28,000 in their first year. The 1.12 debt-to-earnings ratio means you're borrowing roughly 13 months of income, which is manageable but only if those earnings continue climbing. Unfortunately, they barely budge: four years out, graduates are making just $28,393, a mere 3% increase.

The upside? Those earnings do beat the national median of $22,790 by about 25%, placing graduates in the 74th percentile nationally. In Florida's limited market for this degree (only four schools offer it), these numbers hit the state median exactly. So students here aren't getting shortchanged on earning potential—they're just paying a premium to access it. With 57% of students on Pell grants, that debt burden matters even more.

For parents, the calculation is straightforward: your child will likely earn enough to manage the debt, but don't expect this degree to open doors to significantly higher pay down the road. If your student is certain about audiovisual production work and willing to accept near-flat earnings in exchange for entering a competitive field, this works. If they're exploring options or hoping for income growth, that $31,000 debt starts looking less justified.