Communication and Media Studies at Hanover College

Hanover's Communication and Media Studies graduates start slow but show impressive momentum—first-year earnings of $31,621 lag both the state and national medians by about $3,000, yet by year four, earnings jump 46% to over $46,000. This trajectory suggests graduates are finding their footing in media careers, though that rocky start matters when you're carrying $27,000 in debt.

The program sits squarely in the middle of Indiana's competitive media landscape—at the 40th percentile statewide. Top-tier programs like DePauw and Purdue's main campus deliver $10,000+ more in starting salaries, which compounds over those crucial early career years. Still, Hanover keeps debt slightly below state norms, and the 0.85 debt-to-earnings ratio means the initial burden, while substantial, isn't crushing.

The real question is whether your child can weather those lean first years. If they're comfortable with an entry-level income below $32,000 while making loan payments, the growth curve offers hope. But families prioritizing immediate financial stability might look at Indiana's higher-performing programs, where graduates start closer to $40,000 and skip that challenging launch phase entirely.