Communication and Media Studies at Johnson C Smith University

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) makes definitive judgments difficult, but the earnings trajectory is troubling enough to warrant serious concern. Starting at $26,090—roughly $6,000 below North Carolina's median for communications programs and $9,000 below the national median—puts this program in the bottom quarter statewide and bottom 5% nationally. Even with 10% earnings growth, graduates are barely reaching $28,625 after four years, still trailing what peers from other NC programs earn right out of the gate.

The $31,000 debt load makes this picture worse. While not catastrophic by national standards, it represents more than a full year's starting salary. Compare this to UNC-Chapel Hill graduates earning $43,348 or NC State graduates at $39,889—those students are better positioned to manage similar debt burdens. Johnson C. Smith serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (68%), students who typically can't afford extended periods of financial struggle, yet this program launches them into exactly that scenario.

For a family weighing this investment, the question is whether the HBCU experience and Charlotte location offset starting $6,000-$12,000 behind peers at other NC public universities. Unless your child has specific networking or community connections that would boost their prospects beyond what these numbers suggest, communications programs at NC's public universities offer clearer pathways to financial stability. The limited sample means outcomes could vary more than usual, but right now the data argues for exploring alternatives.