Communication and Media Studies at Loras College

Loras College's Communication and Media Studies graduates earn $36,821 in their first year—just above the national median but notably below Iowa's state median of $40,376. With a small sample size, individual outcomes can swing these numbers significantly, but the pattern is worth noting: this program ranks in the 40th percentile among Iowa schools, meaning six out of ten Iowa programs produce higher early earnings. That gap matters for a family weighing a $25,166 median debt load, even though the 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can manage payments on a typical income-driven plan.

The comparison to nearby programs is instructive. Luther College graduates start at $42,012, while University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State both hover around $40,500—roughly $4,000 more annually than Loras graduates. Over several years, that difference compounds. For an in-state family, these alternatives might deliver better immediate returns, though Loras's 92% admission rate makes it accessible to students who might not gain entry elsewhere.

The bottom line: this program clears the basic threshold of manageable debt relative to earnings, but it's not positioned as a value leader in Iowa's competitive communications market. If your child has been admitted to one of the state's higher-performing programs, the earning potential difference is meaningful enough to favor those options.