Communication and Media Studies at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

NC State's Communication and Media Studies program outperforms most alternatives in North Carolina, with first-year earnings of $39,889 placing it in the 60th percentile statewide—about $7,500 above the typical North Carolina graduate in this field. With moderate debt of $22,324 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, graduates are borrowing less than the national average while earning considerably more. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates makes these figures reliable, not flukes.

The program's real strength is its trajectory: earnings grow 18% to reach $47,004 by year four, closing much of the gap with private school competitors like Elon and UNC-Chapel Hill. While those programs still lead in first-year outcomes, NC State graduates are earning solid middle-class salaries at a fraction of the cost. Nationally, this program ranks in the 76th percentile—placing it among the top quarter of communication programs in the country.

For families weighing communication degrees, this represents a sensible choice. You're getting above-average outcomes from a selective public university (40% admission rate, strong academics) without the debt load that often accompanies media studies degrees. The combination of reasonable borrowing and earnings that substantially exceed both state and national medians makes this a practical pathway into the field.