Communication and Media Studies at Pepperdine University

Pepperdine's Communication program posts impressive first-year earnings of $48,400—38% above California's median for this major and 80th percentile statewide. That's meaningful distance from most competitors, though still trailing Cal Poly SLO's $62,000. The relatively modest debt load of $19,700 creates a manageable 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio, lower than both state and national medians for communication majors who typically graduate with $25,000 in loans.

The growth trajectory looks stable rather than dramatic: earnings increase 10% to $53,000 by year four, suggesting graduates find decent entry points but may plateau earlier than some other fields. Among California's 68 communication programs, this performance holds up well, though it's worth noting the small sample size here means a few unusually successful (or struggling) graduates could skew the picture either direction.

For a communications degree—a field often criticized for weak career outcomes—these numbers represent the stronger end of what's possible. The debt stays reasonable while earnings beat most benchmarks. Just understand you're paying Pepperdine's premium tuition (even with aid bringing debt down) for outcomes that are good but not transformative. If your child is serious about media and can keep borrowing around $20,000, this looks defensible.