Communication and Media Studies at Dakota State University

A debt load of roughly $24,000 against first-year earnings near $35,000 creates a manageable starting point—the 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio falls well within sustainable territory. However, these figures come from national patterns across communication programs rather than Dakota State's specific outcomes, and the two South Dakota schools with reported data suggest you might expect something in the $35,000-$39,000 range for first-year earnings in-state. Communication degrees tend to show wide variation in outcomes depending on whether graduates land in marketing, public relations, or entry-level media roles, and a small program at a tech-focused university in rural South Dakota may follow different employment patterns than the national pool.

The concerning element here isn't the estimated numbers themselves—they're reasonable for a communication degree—but what the data suppression signals. When fewer than 10 graduates complete a program in a given year, it suggests limited institutional commitment and potentially thin professional networks. At a school where 98% of applicants are admitted and only 16% receive Pell grants, you're looking at a small program within a niche institution that may lack the alumni connections and industry relationships that help communication graduates break into competitive fields.

If your child is drawn to Dakota State specifically—perhaps for its technology focus or small-school environment—understand you're betting on their individual hustle to find opportunities rather than relying on proven program outcomes. The estimated financials suggest survivability, but success in communication fields often depends heavily on internships, mentorship, and professional networks that small programs struggle to provide.