Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at University of Maryland-College Park

UMD's communication disorders program shows something unusual: graduates start well below typical college-educated workers at $31,000, but by year four they're earning $59,000—a trajectory that nearly doubles initial earnings. That first-year figure should catch your attention, though. Even at a flagship university, these graduates initially earn less than many retail management positions, though they do outperform 84% of similar programs nationally.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing dramatically year to year, but the earnings pattern aligns with how speech-language pathology careers typically work: many graduates pursue master's degrees or clinical fellowships before seeing significant income growth. At $21,500 in debt, your child would owe roughly 70% of their first year's salary—manageable if they're committed to advancing in the field, but problematic if they change course after graduation. Maryland has only three programs in this field, and UMD sits in the middle for both earnings and debt.

The bottom line: This makes sense for students serious about becoming speech-language pathologists or audiologists, where graduate school is typically required and the career payoff comes later. For anyone uncertain about that commitment, the low starting salary creates real financial risk, regardless of the program's strong national ranking.