Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Pepperdine University

The crucial detail here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates reporting, these numbers could shift dramatically with even a handful of different outcomes. That caveat matters, because the data shows a program that starts well below both national and California medians, then surges to nearly double the national benchmark by year four.

That 107% earnings growth is striking, but parents should note that first year's $23,182 is problematically low—roughly $8,000 below what typical California graduates in this field earn. While the program ranks at the 40th percentile statewide (solidly middle-of-the-pack), nearby CSU Dominguez Hills and University of La Verne graduates earn 50% more by year four. The debt load of $21,375 is actually reasonable compared to other California programs in this field, but it still represents nearly a full year's starting salary.

The real question is whether Pepperdine's brand and network justify starting $6,500 below the state median. If your student has clear entertainment industry connections or specific career plans that leverage Pepperdine's Malibu proximity to LA, the eventual earnings climb makes more sense. But with only middle-tier performance against California state schools and those tiny sample sizes making the data unreliable, families should get concrete answers about job placement and alumni outcomes before committing to this selective private university for a communications degree.