Communication and Media Studies at Stark State College

Based on comparable communication programs in Ohio, this associate's degree appears positioned in the middle of the state's range, with estimated first-year earnings around $39,000 against roughly $18,000 in debt. That 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment—you're looking at debt equal to less than half a year's salary. What's worth noting is that similar Ohio programs produce earnings well above the national median of $27,000 for communication associate's degrees, suggesting the state's job market may be relatively favorable for these graduates.

The estimated debt sits above the national median of about $12,000, though this reflects patterns across Ohio's public colleges rather than anything specific to Stark State. For context, comparable programs at schools like Sinclair Community College show similar debt levels with slightly lower estimated earnings. The real question is whether an associate's degree in this field opens enough doors locally—communication can be a broad credential that works better as a stepping stone or when paired with clear career targets in areas like corporate communications or media production.

The bottom line: if your student plans to work in Ohio and either enter the workforce directly or use this as an affordable bridge to a bachelor's degree, the numbers from peer programs suggest reasonable value. But recognize you're making this decision with limited visibility into Stark State's specific graduate outcomes.