Communication and Media Studies at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's communication program sits in an unusual position: it outperforms the national median by $3,000, yet lags behind most other Wisconsin public universities. At $37,807 starting, graduates earn less than their in-state peers at UW-Oshkosh, UW-Eau Claire, and UW-La Crosse—all schools with similar admission profiles. Within Wisconsin's 27 communication programs, this ranks only in the 40th percentile, despite being part of the respected UW system.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $24,625, it's slightly below both state and national medians, creating a manageable 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio that graduates can typically handle. However, earnings barely budge over the first four years—just $438 of growth—which means students hit their earning ceiling quickly. This stagnation is concerning for a field where career progression and networking typically drive meaningful salary increases.

For Wisconsin families, this creates a straightforward calculus. If your child is set on UW-Green Bay for other reasons (location, campus culture, specific faculty), the communication program won't saddle them with crushing debt. But if earnings potential matters and they can access other UW campuses, programs at Oshkosh or Eau Claire deliver 7-8% higher starting salaries for comparable tuition costs. The green light here is conditional: financially reasonable, but not the system's strongest option for this major.