Communication and Media Studies at Mount Mary University

In Wisconsin, communications programs show a tight range of outcomes, with most graduates starting near $38,000—and Mount Mary's estimated figures place squarely in this typical range. Based on comparable programs at similar Wisconsin institutions, students here would likely face around $26,000 in debt against first-year earnings of approximately $38,000. That 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio sits right at the threshold where monthly payments become manageable but not insignificant. Nationally, communications graduates earn a median of $35,000, so Wisconsin's market appears slightly stronger than average for this field.

The challenge with Mount Mary specifically is that we're working entirely from peer program data—the school's actual graduate outcomes aren't available due to small cohort sizes. The state's top-performing communications programs (Edgewood, UW-Superior) do push into the low $40,000s for first-year earnings, suggesting there's variation even within Wisconsin. For a school serving primarily first-generation and lower-income students (58% receive Pell grants), the estimated debt load represents a substantial but not crushing burden if earnings materialize as projected.

The practical takeaway: if your student chooses this path, the estimated numbers suggest a workable financial outcome—assuming Mount Mary's graduates perform like the typical Wisconsin communications program. Before committing, try connecting with recent alumni directly to understand actual job placement rates and starting salaries, since the official data can't tell that story here.