Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations at Mount Mary University

Mount Mary's marketing program produces starting salaries around $39,000 that barely budge over the first four years—from the 1-year to 4-year mark, graduates see just $1,300 in earnings growth. While this beats the national median for similar programs by about $3,200, it matches exactly what the typical Wisconsin graduate in this field earns, offering no particular advantage for staying local. The $25,000 in debt is manageable at 64% of first-year earnings, making this a relatively low-risk investment compared to other marketing programs nationwide.

The real question is trajectory. Most college graduates expect meaningful salary growth in their twenties, but this program's near-flat earnings curve suggests graduates may be landing in retail or entry-level marketing roles without clear advancement paths. With more than half of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on upward mobility that these numbers don't show materializing.

Before committing, recognize that you're looking at data from fewer than 30 graduates, which means a few outliers could skew the picture considerably. What's clear is that this isn't a high-earning path—if your child is passionate about marketing and can manage the modest debt load, Mount Mary provides access to the field at a reasonable price. Just don't expect the degree to unlock substantial earning power in the years immediately following graduation.