Communication and Media Studies at Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State's Communication and Media Studies program outperforms nearly every other program in Georgia and lands in the 93rd percentile nationally—a rare achievement for this major. Graduates start at $43,420, about $9,000 above both state and national medians, while carrying debt just slightly above the Georgia average. Among the 26 schools offering this degree in Georgia, only DeVry and UGA produce higher earners, and Kennesaw's graduates see steady 9% growth through year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 means students borrow less than seven months of their first-year salary, a manageable burden.

The "premium price" classification here feels misleading—the debt is only $1,000 above Georgia's median for this major, while earnings run $9,000 higher. That's an excellent tradeoff. Communication degrees often struggle with low starting salaries, but Kennesaw's program clearly connects students to better opportunities, likely through Atlanta's robust media and corporate communications market. The university's 69% admission rate and significant Pell grant population (35%) suggest this isn't simply a selectivity story; the program itself delivers results.

For parents concerned about communication majors, this data should be reassuring. Your child would graduate with debt similar to peers statewide but earn significantly more, both immediately and four years out. Among Georgia's communication programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile—a strong position at a public university price point.