Communication and Media Studies at Rollins College

Rollins delivers something unusual in communications: graduates whose earnings accelerate after they leave campus. The starting salary of $36,285 jumps 35% to nearly $49,000 by year four—meaningful upward mobility in a field where many programs plateau early. Among Florida's 36 communications programs, Rollins ranks in the 60th percentile, though it trails public universities like Florida Gulf Coast and UCF that offer similar or better outcomes at lower sticker prices.

The $26,000 debt load sits slightly above Florida's median for this major ($21,677), but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 remains manageable—you're looking at roughly nine months of first-year salary to cover the borrowing. What matters more is whether that strong earnings trajectory continues: if year-four salaries reflect graduates finding their footing in marketing, corporate communications, or media roles with growth potential, this debt becomes increasingly affordable over time.

The real question is value relative to alternatives. Rollins charges private school tuition for outcomes that several Florida public universities nearly match at a fraction of the cost. If your child is set on the smaller classes and networking that come with a selective private college (41% admission rate, strong SAT scores), the investment makes sense. But if you're purely focused on ROI in communications, the public options deserve serious consideration first.