Communication and Media Studies at San Jose State University

Four years out, San Jose State's communication graduates earn $60,813—a solid mid-career figure that outpaces the state median of $38,097 and puts this program well ahead of most competitors. However, the first-year earnings estimate of $38,097, based on comparable California programs, suggests a slow initial climb that could strain recent graduates managing even the estimated $15,000 in debt.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 looks manageable on paper, especially compared to the national median debt of $25,000 for this major. But that four-year jump—from roughly $38,000 to $60,000—means the first couple years after graduation may feel tight financially, particularly in San Jose's expensive housing market. The program serves a substantial number of Pell grant recipients (35%), so many graduates will be starting careers without much family cushion.

The key question is whether you can weather those lean early years. If your child can live at home or keep costs low initially, the trajectory looks promising—by year four, they're earning more than graduates from private schools like Pepperdine. But without actual outcome data for this specific cohort, you're betting that San Jose State's program performs at least as well as the typical California communication degree, which is reasonable but not guaranteed.