Communication and Media Studies at Stetson University

The dramatic earnings trajectory tells the real story here: Stetson's communication graduates start at $33,190—slightly below state averages—but see their pay jump 42% to $47,186 by year four. That year-four figure actually exceeds what graduates from DeVry and Florida State College earn at the same point in their careers, despite Stetson's slower launch.

The debt picture makes this growth pattern particularly important. At $27,000, graduates carry more debt than the Florida median ($21,677), though it's still manageable at 0.81 times first-year earnings. What matters is whether your child can weather those first few years while the earnings catch up. By year four, the debt-to-earnings ratio drops to a comfortable 0.57, suggesting the program builds skills or networks that translate to meaningful career advancement. This isn't unusual for a private liberal arts college where alumni connections and long-term professional development matter more than immediate job placement.

The 40th percentile ranking among Florida programs initially looks mediocre, but that's based on first-year earnings alone. If your child has family support or minimal additional expenses during those early years, Stetson's trajectory positions them well by their mid-twenties. If they need strong immediate earnings to manage debt payments, the state's larger public universities might offer a more financially secure path.