Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at Southern University and A & M College

Southern University's Communication Disorders program posts slightly above-average earnings—graduates earn more than both the national median ($24,702) and rank in the 60th percentile among Louisiana programs. However, the $37,250 in median debt is a serious concern, running nearly $15,000 higher than the national median for this field and representing more than a year's salary for recent graduates.

The debt load is particularly worrisome given that communication disorders is typically a field requiring graduate study for licensure—meaning many graduates will need additional loans for their master's degree before entering the workforce as speech-language pathologists. The program serves a predominantly low-income student body (65% receive Pell grants), making this debt burden especially difficult to manage on $25,000 annual earnings.

That said, treat these numbers cautiously: the small sample size means a few outliers could skew the data significantly. If your child is certain about pursuing speech pathology, the earnings trajectory may improve dramatically after graduate school. But based on the undergraduate debt alone, this path requires either substantial family financial support or a serious conversation about whether starting at a community college or choosing a lower-debt alternative would better position your child for the required graduate education ahead.