Communication and Media Studies at Saint Peter's University

Saint Peter's communication program shows a worrying pattern even after accounting for the small sample size: starting salaries of just $28,911 place graduates in the bottom fifth nationally and below New Jersey's median of $30,390. While earnings do climb to $42,102 by year four—a solid 46% increase—that initial year remains a significant hurdle for graduates carrying debt.

The $18,661 in median debt is actually one of the program's relative strengths, coming in well below both state and national averages of $25,000. This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.65, meaning graduates face about eight months of gross income in debt rather than the year or more common elsewhere. For students whose families qualify for Pell grants (54% at Saint Peter's), this lower debt load matters considerably. However, the earning gap with top New Jersey programs is substantial—Rutgers grads start at $43,649, nearly $15,000 higher.

If your child is set on communications and Saint Peter's feels like the right fit, the manageable debt softens what would otherwise be a tough financial picture. But compare carefully against New Jersey's public options, where stronger industry connections in media-heavy northern New Jersey often translate to better starting positions.