Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

Starting salaries around $22,000 represent a genuine challenge for Communication Disorders graduates at UConn Hartford, though there's an important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it less reliable than larger samples. What's particularly striking is that despite ranking in just the 25th percentile nationally, this program sits at the 60th percentile among Connecticut schools—meaning the state's other programs struggle even more with early earnings. The $25,000 debt load isn't excessive in absolute terms, but with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.12, graduates face more than a full year's salary in loans.

The low first-year earnings likely reflect the reality that most Communication Disorders students plan to pursue graduate degrees (required for careers as speech-language pathologists), so many take lower-paying assistant positions or work part-time while continuing their education. If your child isn't committed to graduate school, this major becomes harder to justify financially. However, for students using this as a stepping stone to a master's program, the modest debt keeps options open better than borrowing $40,000+ for the bachelor's degree.

Given the small sample size and UConn's reputation as Connecticut's flagship system, these numbers shouldn't definitively rule out the program. But they do underscore the need for a clear graduate school plan and realistic expectations about entry-level earnings in this field.