Communication and Media Studies at Marymount University

Marymount's Communication and Media Studies program costs an estimated $26,488 in debt—slightly above the state median of $25,250—while early earnings based on comparable Virginia programs hover around $36,220. That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73, which is manageable by standard measures. But the real story emerges by year four, when graduates hit $57,346 in median earnings. That's a 58% jump that puts this program well ahead of the trajectory suggested by initial estimates and substantially better than what typical communication programs nationally produce at the four-year mark.

The challenge is that we're comparing estimated first-year figures against actual mid-career data, which makes it difficult to assess whether Marymount specifically outperforms peers or if the estimation method simply undershot reality. What we know for certain: Virginia's top communication programs (UVA, Virginia Tech, JMU) start graduates in the low-to-mid $40Ks, suggesting Marymount may lag behind the state's most competitive schools initially. Arlington's proximity to D.C.'s media and advocacy sectors could explain the strong four-year number, as graduates gain traction in markets where communication skills command premium salaries.

For parents, the debt load is reasonable and the mid-career earnings are genuinely promising. The uncertainty lies in those crucial first years after graduation—whether your graduate can weather potentially tighter early finances until the earnings curve catches up.