Communication and Media Studies at The Master's University and Seminary

The Master's University's communication program lands its graduates below both California and national benchmarks, with first-year earnings of $29,015 trailing the state median by nearly $10,000. Among California's 68 communication programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state options deliver stronger early earnings. The gap is substantial: top California programs like Cal Poly SLO place graduates earning more than double what Master's grads make initially.

The numbers do improve notably over four years, with a 34% earnings boost to $38,849, though this still lags behind where many graduates from other California programs start. The debt load of $22,250 is actually lower than the state median, which helps the financial picture somewhat. However, you need to interpret all of this carefully—the sample size here is under 30 graduates, meaning these figures could shift significantly with more data.

For families considering California options, this program appears to underperform the state's many alternatives. Unless there are compelling non-financial reasons to attend—mission fit, specific faculty, location needs—your child would likely see better earnings outcomes at California's public universities or higher-ranked private institutions. The small cohort size raises questions about whether this represents a core program strength for the institution.