Communication and Media Studies at Longwood University

Longwood's Communication and Media Studies program sits right at Virginia's median for first-year earnings ($36,062 versus $36,220 statewide), but lags behind its in-state competitors—ranking in just the 40th percentile among Virginia programs. The debt load of $26,000 is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 that's better than many liberal arts programs, but graduates at JMU, Virginia Tech, and UVA are earning $6,000-$11,000 more annually with similar debt burdens.

The 20% earnings growth to $43,349 by year four is solid and tracks ahead of inflation, suggesting graduates find their footing in the job market. However, starting at $36,000 in Virginia—where cost of living in major media markets like Richmond and Northern Virginia runs high—means tight budgets early on. The program performs slightly above the national median but trails stronger Virginia options that could offer better networking and alumni connections in competitive media markets.

For Virginia families, this becomes a value calculation: Longwood's 85% admission rate makes it accessible, but if your child can gain admission to JMU or Virginia Tech, those programs deliver meaningfully higher earnings for comparable debt. If Longwood is the realistic option and your child is committed to communications, the financials work—just expect a modest starting salary and the need to be strategic about internships and first jobs to maximize that early career trajectory.