Compare 20 Communication, General. programs in Michigan. Average earnings: $43,659.
With top graduates earning $66,507, Communication, General stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $23K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige across Michigan's 20 programs.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Communication, General program leads with graduates earning $66,507, well above the state average of $43,659. Michigan State University follows at $55,915, while Central Michigan University reaches $51,268—demonstrating that program quality varies significantly even among state institutions.
Highest program earnings: $66,507
Strong outcomes ($55,915) with 84% acceptance
6.1% payment burden | Excellent
16.9% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $66,507 | 242 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $55,915 | 455 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High | |
| #3 | $51,268 | 54 | $27,000 | Manageable | $23,103 | High | |
| #4 | Albion CollegePrivate | $49,262 | 26 | $27,000 | Manageable | $32,317 | High |
| #5 | Hope CollegePrivate | $47,958 | 48 | $26,800 | Manageable | $48,059 | High |
| #6 | $46,839 | 60 | $22,500 | Manageable | $16,132 | Challenging | |
| #7 | Rochester UniversityPrivate | $46,130 | 17 | $24,475 | Manageable | $15,987 | Challenging |
| #8 | Adrian CollegePrivate | $45,740 | 8 | $27,000 | Manageable | $38,405 | High |
| #9 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $45,064 | 146 | $22,750 | Manageable | $17,858 | High |
| #10 | Aquinas CollegePrivate | $44,289 | 13 | $23,000 | Manageable | $24,361 | High |
| #11 | $43,310 | 141 | $25,000 | Manageable | $16,878 | High | |
| #12 | $42,559 | 20 | $24,500 | Manageable | $26,392 | High | |
| #13 | Calvin UniversityPrivate | $41,748 | 23 | $23,250 | Manageable | $33,900 | High |
| #14 | $41,112 | 48 | $25,000 | Challenging | $18,264 | High | |
| #15 | $41,058 | 51 | $26,188 | Challenging | $22,488 | High | |
| #16 | $40,366 | 24 | $25,000 | Challenging | $12,953 | High | |
| #17 | $37,204 | 16 | $21,474 | Challenging | $17,287 | High | |
| #18 | $30,771 | 7 | $27,000 | High | $54,800 | High | |
| #19 | Cornerstone UniversityPrivate | $30,615 | 11 | $25,000 | High | $18,141 | High |
| #20 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $26,933 | 48 | $21,250 | High | $16,378 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
