Communication and Media Studies at Lesley University

Borrowing $26,000 for first-year earnings around $36,380 sits right at Massachusetts's typical outcome for Communication and Media Studies programs, but that middling position deserves scrutiny. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 falls within manageable territory—better than the national median debt of $25,000 paired with lower national earnings of $34,959—it's worth noting that several Boston-area programs place graduates into substantially higher-earning positions. Boston College and Northeastern graduates in this field earn $47,000-$55,000 in their first year, suggesting that program quality and institutional network matter considerably in media careers.

The challenge with Lesley's program is that we're working entirely with estimates drawn from peer programs across Massachusetts, since the graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. Similar programs statewide suggest earnings hovering around $36,000, which provides adequate breathing room for the estimated debt load but leaves little margin if your child's actual experience deviates downward. Communication fields often reward internship networks, alumni connections, and geographic positioning—factors where Lesley's Cambridge location helps but its 94% admission rate and smaller profile may not match the Boston powerhouses.

If your child is passionate about media and specifically drawn to Lesley's approach, the estimated numbers aren't prohibitive. But push for transparency about internship placements and post-graduation employment support, since those concrete outcomes matter more than estimated figures when you're the one writing the loan checks.