Graphic Communications at Morgan State University

Morgan State's graphic communications program lands in the bottom 10th percentile for Maryland earnings—a significant gap in a state where the median graduate in this field earns $35,712. At $24,843 in first-year earnings, graduates here make about $11,000 less than their Maryland counterparts and even fall slightly below the already modest national median of $25,330. University of Maryland Global Campus graduates in the same field earn nearly twice as much at $46,581, suggesting the local market values different program outcomes or connections.

The financial picture compounds this challenge. While the $31,000 debt load sits near national norms, it creates a 1.25 debt-to-earnings ratio when paired with these lower earnings—meaning graduates owe more than they'll make in their entire first year. That's a tough starting point for building financial stability, especially for a school where 54% of students receive Pell grants and may have fewer family resources to fall back on.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift considerably with a larger sample. But the current picture suggests significant risk. If your child is set on graphic communications, the earnings gap within Maryland alone warrants serious consideration of alternatives—or at minimum, a clear understanding of how this program's outcomes differ from competitors in your own backyard.