Communication and Media Studies at Vassar College

That $23,270 first-year salary from an elite liberal arts college deserves some scrutiny, though the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means this figure could be skewed by a handful of outcomes. Still, even acknowledging that limitation, this number falls dramatically short of both the New York state median ($31,881) and national median ($34,959) for communication majors. More troubling is the comparison to peer institutions: Cornell's communication graduates earn nearly triple this amount, while even less selective New York schools typically see their grads earning in the $40,000-50,000 range.

The $18,250 debt load is actually lower than typical for this major, which provides some buffer. But when your starting salary barely exceeds minimum wage territory in the New York metro area, even moderate debt feels significant. The 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but it reflects the earnings problem more than the debt advantage. For context, Vassar's 18% admission rate and 1513 average SAT suggest students with strong alternatives—many of whom could likely access communication programs with significantly better employment outcomes, either at larger universities with robust industry connections or at schools in major media markets.

If your child is set on Vassar for the broader liberal arts experience, understand that this major's career outcomes lag substantially behind what the college's selectivity might suggest. The small sample means next year's data could look different, but current graduates aren't finding the immediate economic traction you'd expect from a highly selective institution.