Communication and Media Studies at University of Michigan-Flint

At $35,982 in first-year earnings, University of Michigan-Flint's Communication and Media Studies program lands near the national median but trails most Michigan competitors. The 40th percentile state ranking tells the real story—graduates here earn about $10,000 less annually than peers from UM-Ann Arbor's flagship program and roughly $4,000 below typical Michigan outcomes for this major. While earnings do grow to just over $40,000 by year four, that's still modest for a degree that carries above-average debt.

The debt picture deserves attention: $30,250 is higher than 95% of communication programs nationally and exceeds Michigan's typical burden for this field by $3,375. The 0.84 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming, but it means graduates will face meaningful loan payments relative to their starting salaries. For a regional campus serving many Pell-eligible students (35%), taking on above-average debt for below-average state outcomes creates financial pressure.

If your student is committed to communications and needs to stay in the Flint area, this program works—graduates do find jobs and see income growth. But if they have flexibility, nearby Eastern Michigan or Oakland University deliver comparable or better earnings with less debt. The value proposition here depends heavily on location constraints and net cost after aid.