Communication and Media Studies at Saint Mary's College

Saint Mary's Communication and Media Studies program shows an unusual pattern that deserves your attention: graduates start below average but end up substantially ahead. That first-year salary of $32,322 sits below both Indiana and national medians, but by year four, earnings jump to $57,637—a 78% increase that outpaces typical career progression in this field.

This trajectory matters because it suggests graduates are building toward careers with real earning potential, not just landing in entry-level positions that plateau quickly. The $27,000 in debt is actually lower than state and national averages, making the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable even during that lean first year. However, your child will need to navigate those initial lower earnings carefully, possibly living at home or keeping expenses minimal while that career momentum builds.

The program ranks in the 40th percentile among Indiana communications programs—solidly middle-of-the-pack within a state where top programs like DePauw start graduates around $43,000. If your child values Saint Mary's particular educational environment and community, the numbers work out reasonably well by year four. But if maximizing immediate post-graduation earnings is the priority, stronger options exist within Indiana. The key question: can your family weather that slower start in exchange for respectable mid-career positioning?