Communication and Media Studies at Otterbein University

Otterbein's communication program starts graduates at $31,200—about $4,600 below Ohio's median and in the bottom third nationally. Among Ohio's 54 programs, it ranks in the 40th percentile, trailing state leaders like Denison ($47,400) and Ohio State ($41,200) by significant margins. The saving grace here is relatively modest debt at $18,500, well below both state and national medians, creating a manageable 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio that beats the typical communications graduate's situation.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable, so they could shift considerably with more data. That said, the 20% earnings growth to $37,400 by year four suggests graduates do find their footing, even if the starting point is low. For context, this is roughly what you'd expect from a regional university with an 83% acceptance rate—not elite outcomes, but accessible education at a lower debt burden.

The calculation is straightforward: your child would likely start below market rate for Ohio communications graduates, but wouldn't be saddled with crushing debt while figuring out their career path. If they're comparing to Ohio's flagship or private competitors, they should expect $4,000-$10,000 less in starting salary, though that gap might narrow if Otterbein's lower sticker price translates to meaningfully less debt than these averages suggest.