Communication and Media Studies at Saint Anselm College

Saint Anselm delivers what many Communication and Media Studies programs promise but fail to deliver: starting salaries that actually exceed $40,000. At $43,819 in year one—climbing to $59,314 by year four—graduates earn 25% more than the national median for this major and outpace three of the state's five programs. That 35% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are developing real career momentum, not just treading water in entry-level positions.

The $27,000 debt load sits right at New Hampshire's median for this program, but the payoff matters more than the price tag. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, graduates carry less than eight months of their first-year salary in loans—manageable territory for a liberal arts degree that often struggles with employment outcomes. The 95th percentile national ranking tells you this isn't typical for communication majors, though the 60th percentile state ranking reminds you that New Hampshire's programs generally perform well in this field.

For a family weighing a private college investment in a major often dismissed as impractical, these numbers justify the choice. Your child won't graduate debt-free, but they'll enter a job market with credentials that demonstrably open doors—and earnings that allow them to close those student loans within a reasonable timeframe.