Communication and Media Studies at Morehead State University

Morehead State's Communication and Media Studies program starts graduates at $26,803—well below both the Kentucky median ($34,858) and the national average ($34,959). Among the 22 Kentucky schools offering this degree, it ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of in-state alternatives deliver stronger immediate outcomes. For reference, graduates from Eastern Kentucky and UK start nearly $14,000 higher, a gap that compounds over time even as Morehead students see decent earnings growth.

The debt load of $24,857 is manageable in isolation, but paired with that first-year salary, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.93—meaning graduates owe nearly a full year's salary right out of the gate. The 37% earnings jump to $36,595 by year four shows career progression is possible, but that still trails Kentucky's median and leaves graduates playing catch-up. Nationally, this program ranks in just the 5th percentile, signaling it underperforms the vast majority of communication programs across the country.

If your child is committed to studying communication in Kentucky, you'll find stronger returns at nearly any other public university in the state. The financial picture here makes this degree difficult to justify unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend Morehead specifically—such as location constraints or unique program features that offset the earnings disadvantage.