Communication and Media Studies at North Carolina A & T State University

North Carolina A&T's Communication and Media Studies program starts graduates at $28,985—about $5,300 below the North Carolina median and $6,000 below the national average for this major. While that ranks in only the 19th percentile nationally, it's closer to the middle of the pack within North Carolina (40th percentile), reflecting the state's competitive landscape for communications degrees. The debt load of $27,643 is actually slightly higher than typical for this major, creating a near 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio in that critical first year.

The positive story here is trajectory: earnings jump to $40,087 by year four, a 38% increase that brings graduates above both state and national medians. This suggests the program develops skills that take time to monetize in the job market. Given that over half of students receive Pell grants, many families are choosing this program for access and affordability reasons. The strong sample size (100+ graduates) makes these patterns reliable.

For families comparing options, understand that this program trades immediate earning power for longer-term growth. Those early years—when loan payments hit hardest—will require careful budgeting. If your child can secure internships or start networking before graduation, they'll be better positioned to accelerate that earnings timeline. The debt isn't unmanageable, but the initial salary squeeze is real.