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Communication Disorders Sciences and Services bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Federal field 5102

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$6,745 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
40.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−69% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+86%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$24,521$45,599
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
20Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
27Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
66Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$11,982Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$13,315

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$21,287

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$52,183

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$226/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,315Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,992Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE81.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE60.3%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$24,521Year 1
$52,183Year 4
$45,599Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.2% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,349
Estimated loan payment$226
66borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$52,183 vs. $58,928

$6,745 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$103,220 median wageNC estimate · 9,240 jobs · 25-1071+17.9% projected U.S. growth · 24.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeAudiologists$88,920 median wageNC estimate · 450 jobs · 29-1181+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSpeech-Language Pathologists$86,460 median wageNC estimate · 5,600 jobs · 29-1127+16.6% projected U.S. growth · 12.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Greensboro, NC

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

$9,437 higher earnings · $2,350 lower annual net price

Earnings
$61,620
Debt
$22,699
Annual net price
$10,965
View outcomes →
Boone, NC

Appalachian State University

$942 higher earnings · $1,412 less debt

Earnings
$53,125
Debt
$19,875
Annual net price
$16,836
View outcomes →
Greenville, NC

East Carolina University

$16,155 higher earnings

Earnings
$68,338
Debt
$25,250
Annual net price
$15,739
View outcomes →
Queens, NY

CUNY Queens College

$26,098 higher earnings · $12,787 less debt · $9,120 lower annual net price

Earnings
$78,281
Debt
$8,500
Annual net price
$4,195
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

27 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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