Program Analysis
While the career paths listed represent high-paying national roles, your immediate post-graduation landscape will likely be shaped by the regional economy of West Virginia and the surrounding D.C. commuter belt. The lower earnings data reflects that many graduates take on vital communication roles in local government, small businesses, and non-profits, which offer valuable experience but not the high salaries found in major metropolitan media hubs. Your competition isn’t just from other Shepherd grads, but from the dense concentration of universities in the nearby D.C. and Baltimore markets. To overcome this, your key advantage is proximity. You must aggressively pursue internships in the D.C. area during your junior and senior years. A strong portfolio built on real-world D.C. experience will be the single most important factor in landing a higher-paying first job and launching a career that can reach those national salary levels.