Communication and Media Studies at Metropolitan State University

Metropolitan State's Communication and Media Studies program posts impressive earnings that blow past national averages—graduates earn $46,320 in year one, 32% more than the typical communications grad nationwide. That's elite performance on paper, ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. The catch? The debt load is equally steep at $34,933, which exceeds both national and Minnesota medians by roughly 40%. Still, the 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, and earnings climb to $53,180 by year four, a healthy 15% increase that suggests career momentum.

Within Minnesota, the picture gets more nuanced. Metropolitan State lands in the 60th percentile statewide—respectable, but trailing programs at Gustavus Adolphus and other private colleges that deliver similar or better outcomes. Given Met State's open-admission model and large Pell grant population (44%), these earnings represent strong outcomes for students who might not have access to selective private schools. The debt, however, demands attention: borrowers here carry about $9,000 more than the Minnesota median for this major.

For anxious parents, the calculation depends on alternatives. If your child can access Minnesota's top-tier private colleges, those might justify similar debt with slightly higher earnings potential. But if Metropolitan State represents an accessible path to a four-year degree, the earnings trajectory makes the investment defensible—just ensure your student truly needs the credential and has a clear career plan to justify borrowing $35,000 for a communications degree.