Communication Disorders Sciences and Services: is this first professional degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$87,889 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$87,889Median year-4 earnings
$21,241Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$87,889Median reported earnings · year 4
$62,893Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
50thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
7Reporting programs
7With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,398
- Federal debt
- $18,254
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,971
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,557
- Federal debt
- $22,500
- Reporting programs
- 231
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- Not available
- Federal debt
- $25,376
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $66,494
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 247
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $88,326
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 25
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,889
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,215
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$77,407National median$87,88975th percentile$90,497
7 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
7 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$100,761Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$30,9152University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI · PublicYear-4 earnings$96,720Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,3543Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$90,497Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$21,7864University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · PublicYear-4 earnings$87,889Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,6555University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA · PublicYear-4 earnings$78,063Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$30,4346University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences CenterOklahoma City, OK · PublicYear-4 earnings$77,407Federal debtNot availableAnnual net priceNot available7University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK · PublicYear-4 earnings$77,407Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$15,300
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northeastern University$100,7612University of Wisconsin-Madison$96,7203Washington University in St Louis$90,4974University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$87,8895University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$78,0636University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center$77,4077University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus$77,407Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1071 · 5 crosswalk linksAudiologistsSOC 29-1181 · 4 crosswalk linksSpeech-Language PathologistsSOC 29-1127 · 4 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Boston, MA | $100,761 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,915 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonFirst Professional Degree | Madison, WI | $96,720 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,354 |
| 3 | Washington University in St LouisFirst Professional Degree | St. Louis, MO | $90,497 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,786 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFirst Professional Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $87,889 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,655 |
| 5 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusFirst Professional Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $78,063 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,434 |
| 6 | University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences CenterFirst Professional Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | $77,407 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 7 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusFirst Professional Degree | Norman, OK | $77,407 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,300 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.