Communication and Media Studies at Virginia Union University

The numbers here demand caution: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, any conclusion is tentative. That said, what we see isn't encouraging. First-year earnings of $18,076 rank this program in the bottom 10% both nationally and among Virginia's 29 communication programs, while $31,000 in debt exceeds both state and national medians. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.71 means graduates owe nearly double what they earn in year one—a particularly difficult position for students from a school where half receive Pell grants.

The 93% earnings jump to $34,936 by year four looks dramatic on paper, but it only brings graduates to roughly the national median—still $10,000 below what James Madison or Virginia Tech communication grads earn at that same milestone. Among Virginia programs, this ranks near the bottom of a competitive field where even mid-tier options deliver substantially better outcomes.

The small sample size means these figures could shift significantly with more data, but the pattern aligns with broader concerns about communication degrees at open-enrollment institutions. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend Virginia Union specifically, Virginia offers many communication programs with stronger track records—and some, like in-state public universities, likely at lower cost.