Communication and Media Studies at Saint Michael's College

Saint Michael's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $30,747—about $4,200 below the national median for the major—but show impressive momentum, jumping 52% to $46,635 by year four. That growth trajectory suggests the program builds skills that take a few years to monetize, a common pattern in media fields where entry-level positions often underpay. Within Vermont's limited market, this program actually ranks above the state median, though that comparison matters less than the national picture given how portable media careers can be.

The debt load of $26,614 is manageable relative to first-year earnings (0.87 ratio), meaning graduates owe roughly ten months of their starting salary. That's reasonable for a liberal arts degree, and the strong earnings growth helps the math improve quickly. However, the small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means a handful of outliers could be skewing these numbers in either direction.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your child plans to stay in Vermont's small media market or migrate to Boston, New York, or other metro areas where communication roles pay better. If they're committed to building skills and willing to grind through lower early earnings, the year-four salary suggests patience pays off. But if they need immediate earning power after graduation, other Vermont programs like Norwich's version start considerably higher at $37,161.