Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at William Paterson University of New Jersey

That $24,702 first-year salary is startlingly low for any bachelor's degree—about half what typical college graduates earn nationally. While William Paterson's Communication Disorders program hits the national median for this field and ranks in the 60th percentile among New Jersey's three programs, this entire career path appears designed around graduate education. The relatively modest debt load of $18,947 is one of the few bright spots here, though even that's above the national program median.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, but the broader pattern holds across Communication Disorders programs nationwide: bachelor's-level earnings rarely support independent living in expensive states like New Jersey. Most graduates in this field pursue master's degrees in speech-language pathology, where salaries jump considerably. If your child plans to stop at the bachelor's degree and enter the workforce immediately, this path will likely mean financial dependence or struggle in the near term.

If graduate school is the plan, this program keeps undergraduate debt manageable compared to peers. But be clear-eyed about the total investment required: you're looking at 6+ years of education and additional debt before reaching viable earning potential. Without that graduate degree commitment, this bachelor's degree offers weak standalone value.