Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at Kent State University at Kent

Kent State's Communication Disorders program shows promising earnings trajectory despite modest starting salaries. Graduates earn $27,742 in their first year—ahead of both the national median ($24,702) and Ohio median ($23,758)—and this 60th percentile ranking within Ohio becomes more impressive when you see where earnings head next. By year four, median income jumps 74% to $48,193, suggesting many graduates pursue additional credentials or clinical positions that unlock substantially better compensation.

The $21,500 debt load is actually lower than typical Ohio programs in this field (median: $24,625) and creates a manageable 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio at graduation. This matters because many students in this field anticipate graduate school—where speech-language pathology programs typically lead to median salaries above $70,000—so minimizing undergraduate debt preserves flexibility for that investment. The four-year earnings figure also reflects that some graduates may already be working in better-compensated roles even without advanced degrees.

The main caveat: this data comes from a small sample size, so individual outcomes may vary more than these medians suggest. However, the fundamentals look solid for a program that typically serves as a stepping stone to graduate work, with below-average debt and earnings that keep pace with—or exceed—state and national benchmarks.