Communication and Media Studies at University of North Florida

University of North Florida's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $36,842—outearning the Florida median for this program by about $2,000 and placing in the 60th percentile both statewide and nationally. More importantly, they're carrying just $17,345 in debt, roughly $8,000 below what typical Florida comm students owe. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, a manageable starting point for a humanities field where debt can easily spiral.

The earnings trajectory shows steady growth to $44,654 by year four, a 21% increase that suggests graduates are finding their footing in the job market. While UNF doesn't crack the top tier of Florida programs (DeVry and Florida State College at Jacksonville grads earn significantly more), it sits comfortably in the middle pack alongside UCF and performs better than many private alternatives.

The real story here is value: UNF delivers typical communication field earnings without the debt burden that often makes these degrees questionable investments. For a family considering in-state options, this program offers a relatively low-risk path into media and communications work.