Communication and Media Studies at Neumann University

Neumann's Communication and Media Studies program sits squarely in the middle of Pennsylvania's offerings—at the 60th percentile among 63 state programs—while landing well below the national median. Starting salaries of $32,386 trail the national benchmark by about $2,600, though the modest debt load of $27,375 keeps the financial burden manageable. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85, graduates should be able to handle their loans, even if the payoff isn't dramatic.

The real concern here is the limited earnings ceiling. Four years out, graduates are making just $34,425—barely outpacing inflation and still well behind what typical communications grads earn nationally. Compare this to nearby Villanova or Messiah University, where communications graduates start above $45,000, and the opportunity cost becomes clear. Neumann serves a significant Pell grant population (42%), which makes accessibility important, but the program doesn't appear to accelerate students toward substantially higher earnings than they'd see at other regional schools.

For an anxious parent, this means your child is unlikely to face crushing debt, but they're also unlikely to see strong earnings growth in this field through this program. If communications is the passion, looking at Pennsylvania's higher-performing programs—or considering whether graduate school might eventually be necessary—would be worth the conversation.