Communication and Media Studies at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

UNCG's Communication and Media Studies program starts slow but shows promising momentum, with graduates seeing 27% earnings growth from year one to year four. That trajectory matters more than the initial $30,559 salary, which sits below both the national median ($34,959) and the state median ($32,323). While the program ranks only in the 40th percentile among North Carolina schools—trailing flagship Chapel Hill by nearly $5,000 at year four—the debt load remains manageable at $25,000.

The real question is whether that growth continues beyond year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 isn't alarming, meaning graduates can theoretically pay off their loans in less than a year if they commit heavily to repayment. However, starting at 25th percentile nationally means these graduates begin their careers at a disadvantage compared to peers from other programs. The 90% admission rate and high Pell grant percentage (47%) suggest UNCG serves a broader student population, which may explain some of the earnings gap.

For cost-conscious families, UNCG delivers an accessible communications degree without crushing debt. But if your child can gain admission to UNC-Chapel Hill or NC State, those programs offer substantially better early earnings without increasing debt. UNCG makes sense if in-state affordability is the priority and your student is willing to grind through those first few years of below-average pay.