Communication and Media Studies at Miami University-Middletown

Miami University-Middletown graduates start below most Ohio communications programs but experience something unusual: their earnings jump 44% by year four, reaching $50,404. That's meaningful growth in a field where many grads see flatter trajectories. The catch? You're starting at $34,959, which lands in the 40th percentile among Ohio programs—below the state median of $35,804 and well behind schools like Denison ($47,396) or Ohio State ($41,232).

The debt load of $21,500 works in your favor here, sitting about $4,000 below both state and national medians. With a 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates can manage payments even during that lower-earning first year. The question becomes whether those four years of income growth compensate for starting behind peers at other Ohio schools. By year four, you're catching up—$50,404 represents solid earnings for communications grads—but you've sacrificed early-career income compared to alternatives.

This program makes sense for families prioritizing manageable debt over immediate earning power, particularly if you're confident about sticking with the field long enough to see that growth materialize. Just know you're accepting a slower start than you'd get at most other Ohio communications programs.