Communication and Media Studies at Lake Superior State University

A bachelor's in communication from Lake Superior State comes with an estimated $27,000 in debt—slightly above both state and national medians for the field—while similar programs in Michigan suggest first-year earnings around $36,000. That puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.75, which is manageable but not exactly comfortable. For context, graduates from Michigan's flagship programs like U-M Ann Arbor earn substantially more ($50,556) in their first year, though those programs also tend to be more selective and competitive.

The challenge with communication degrees is that they're inherently versatile, which means career outcomes vary dramatically based on what students do with them. Based on comparable programs statewide, this degree appears to produce earnings right at Michigan's median for the field. That's neither remarkable nor alarming—it's squarely middle-of-the-pack among the 34 Michigan schools offering this major.

The practical question is whether $27,000 in debt makes sense for a field where first-year earnings around $36,000 are typical. The numbers work mathematically, but there's little margin for error. If your child is passionate about media and has a clear career direction—whether that's corporate communications, digital marketing, or journalism—this could be a reasonable path. But if they're still figuring things out, understand that this field rewards initiative and internships more than the credential itself, and the debt load won't disappear while they search for their footing.