Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at The University of Alabama

Alabama's Communication Disorders program starts graduates around $29,000—slightly above both the national median and what other Alabama programs report. But here's what matters: within four years, median earnings jump 79% to nearly $52,000. That trajectory puts this program in the 77th percentile nationally, meaning it outperforms three-quarters of similar bachelor's programs across the country.

The $23,250 in typical debt is manageable, representing about nine months of first-year earnings. While that first year might feel tight financially—$29,000 doesn't go far—the steep earnings curve suggests graduates are moving into better-paying roles as they gain experience or complete graduate work. This pattern makes sense for a field where many students use the bachelor's as a stepping stone to speech-language pathology or audiology master's programs.

The key question is timing: will your student begin working immediately after graduation, or continue to graduate school? If they're planning to work first, that initial salary will be lean. If they're heading straight to a master's program, these numbers become less relevant since speech-language pathology salaries tell a different story. Either way, the debt load isn't alarming, and the program clearly prepares students well compared to alternatives nationwide.