Communication and Media Studies at University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder's Communication and Media Studies program delivers strong early earnings but falls behind the state's online competitors. Starting at nearly $40K—ranking in the 75th percentile nationally—graduates see 42% income growth by year four, reaching $56K. That's a solid trajectory that outpaces most communication programs across the country.

The debt picture is what makes this program genuinely compelling. At just $17,500, it's less than half the national median for communication majors and barely a third of what some peer programs saddle students with. This creates a remarkably low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. Compare that to the typical communication grad struggling with $25K in loans on lower starting pay, and the value proposition becomes clear.

The wrinkle: Colorado State's online program pays nearly $50K right out of the gate, placing it $10K ahead of Boulder. That's a significant gap for families weighing options within Colorado. Still, for students wanting the traditional campus experience at a flagship university, Boulder delivers reasonable debt and earnings that grow substantially. You're not getting top-in-state outcomes, but you're getting them at a price point that won't require years of financial recovery.