Communication and Media Studies at Trevecca Nazarene University

At $27,053 in first-year earnings, Trevecca's Communication and Media Studies program lands right at Tennessee's median for the field, but significantly trails the national figure of nearly $35,000. More concerning: this places graduates in just the 11th percentile nationally, meaning 89% of comparable programs produce better early earnings. The debt load of $21,625 is actually below both state and national averages, which keeps the financial picture from being dire—the 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than a year's salary.

The real question is whether these numbers represent a genuine outcome or statistical noise. With fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, one or two students taking gap years or pursuing graduate school immediately could drag down the average substantially. What we do know is that Tennessee's top programs—Belmont and UT-Knoxville—are producing graduates who earn over $40,000 in year one, nearly 55% more than Trevecca's median.

For families paying private-school tuition, these numbers warrant serious scrutiny. If your student is choosing Trevecca for specific reasons (faith-based education, smaller classes, Nashville location), understand that the communication program appears to underperform both nationally and against in-state competitors. The manageable debt provides some cushion, but starting at $27,000 in Nashville—where living costs continue climbing—will be financially tight.