Program Analysis
At $29,527 per year, Communication and Media Studies graduates from Merrimack College earn below the $35,147 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
The financial case is thin at 2.9x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Communication and Media Studies's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $25,783 represents roughly 10 months of the $29,527 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #534 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, Merrimack College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $61,206 show a 107% jump from the $29,527 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.