Communication and Media Studies at Greenville University

Similar communications programs across Illinois typically produce first-year earnings around $36,000, which is where Greenville graduates would likely land. That puts this program right at the state median—not exceptional, but solidly middle-of-the-pack for the major. The estimated $24,000 in debt is actually slightly below the national median for communications degrees, which helps offset the modest earnings.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 suggests manageable repayment, though families should recognize the ceiling here. The top Illinois programs—Northwestern at $52,000, even DePry at $48,000—demonstrate that communications outcomes vary dramatically by institution. Greenville's open-admission profile (95% acceptance rate) and modest SAT averages indicate it serves a different population than these competitors, and the earnings reflect that positioning.

For families weighing this investment, the key question is opportunity cost. Communications is a crowded field nationally with over 1,100 programs, and peer programs in Illinois suggest Greenville graduates will start in the $35-37,000 range. That's viable if your student has clear career direction and plans to leverage internships and connections aggressively. But given that these are estimates from comparable programs rather than Greenville's actual track record, families should request the school's placement data directly and talk to recent alumni about their job search experience before committing.