Communication and Media Studies at John Carroll University

John Carroll's Communication and Media Studies graduates earn substantially more than typical communications majors—landing at the 82nd percentile nationally with first-year earnings of $41,072. That's 17% above the national median and puts them in the same ballpark as grads from Ohio State and Cincinnati. The $27,000 debt load is actually below average for this field, creating a manageable 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than most communications programs nationwide.

The trajectory looks solid: earnings jump 34% to $55,079 by year four, which suggests these graduates are building real career momentum rather than getting stuck in entry-level media roles. Within Ohio, this program sits at the 60th percentile—respectable but not elite. It trails Denison ($47,396) and Dayton ($42,629), though those comparisons matter less if you're paying significantly different tuition rates.

For a selective-but-accessible Jesuit school (81% acceptance rate), John Carroll delivers communications graduates who actually out-earn many of their peers. The combination of below-average debt and above-average earnings is relatively rare in this major. If your child is paying private school tuition anyway, this program appears to justify the cost better than most communications degrees.