Communication, Journalism, at Middle Georgia State University

Middle Georgia State's communication program graduates students earning just $28,024 in their first year—about $4,500 below Georgia's median for this field and roughly $6,000 behind the national benchmark. While this ranks in the 40th percentile among Georgia's three communication programs (not terrible on its face), the limited in-state competition makes this comparison less meaningful. More concerning: nationally, it sits at just the 15th percentile, suggesting most communication graduates elsewhere start with significantly stronger earning potential.

The debt picture offers a silver lining, with graduates carrying $25,964—slightly above state and national medians but resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.93. For a program at an open-admission institution serving many Pell-eligible students, keeping debt in check matters. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift considerably year to year.

The fundamental challenge here is whether $28,000 in starting salary provides enough runway to manage debt and build a career. That's roughly $14 an hour full-time—tight for a college graduate anywhere, but particularly in a field where connections and geographic mobility often drive advancement. If your child is considering this program, they should have a specific plan for how they'll leverage the degree beyond that initial salary, whether through graduate school, geographic relocation, or a clear industry pathway.