Communication and Media Studies at University of the Incarnate Word

The first-year earnings figure here—$17,048—should immediately concern you. This is well below minimum wage for full-time work and ranks in just the 10th percentile among Texas communication programs, suggesting most graduates either aren't finding full-time positions or are working in roles that don't require a degree. With $27,000 in debt, you're looking at loan payments that could easily consume half of that first-year income. Even comparing within Texas, where the median communication graduate earns $33,906, this program significantly underperforms.

The 115% earnings jump by year four does show graduates eventually find their footing, reaching $36,662—closer to national norms. However, those early years of financial struggle matter enormously, particularly when you're trying to establish independence and manage debt payments. The strongest Texas programs (UT Austin, Baylor) start graduates at incomes double what UIW delivers initially. The school's 93% admission rate and below-average test scores suggest it serves a largely access-oriented mission, which is valuable, but the outcomes data indicates students are paying a steep financial price during the transition to stable employment.

If your child is set on communication studies and UIW specifically, ensure they have either significant financial support to minimize borrowing or a concrete plan—internships, portfolio work, professional networks—to avoid the underemployment that appears common here. Otherwise, look at programs where graduates start above $30,000.