Communication and Media Studies at Norwich University

Norwich University's communication program charges $27,000 in median debt but delivers first-year earnings of $37,161—beating both the national median ($34,959) and Vermont's median ($30,747) by a meaningful margin. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 means graduates can expect to earn back their total debt in under a year of salary, which is quite manageable. Among Vermont's six communication programs, Norwich ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, placing it solidly ahead of Vermont State University's concerning $21,028 median but comparable to Saint Michael's College.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly with a larger sample. That said, the 62nd percentile ranking nationally suggests this isn't just a statistical fluke—Norwich appears to deliver slightly above-average outcomes for communication graduates. The relatively low debt (25th percentile nationally means lower debt than 75% of comparable programs) helps offset any concerns about the modest absolute salary figure.

For families considering this program, the math works: reasonable debt paired with earnings that exceed state and national benchmarks. Just recognize that $37,000 first-year salaries mean budgeting carefully, and the small cohort size means individual job placement could vary more than at larger programs.