Communication and Media Studies at The College of Saint Scholastica

Minnesota's communication programs show a 10-point spread at the top, and estimates suggest The College of Saint Scholastica lands below that cluster. With projected first-year earnings around $40,400—based on the state median for similar programs—graduates would likely start roughly $5,000 behind peers at Gustavus Adolphus or Metro State. That gap matters when you're carrying an estimated $27,000 in debt, which translates to a monthly payment around $300 for the standard 10-year term.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 sits in reasonable territory, suggesting manageable repayment relative to income. Communication degrees nationally tend toward modest starting salaries ($35,000 at the median), so the Minnesota market appears somewhat stronger. Still, the absence of actual outcomes data for this specific program means parents can't see whether Saint Scholastica's particular curriculum, internship network, or employer connections help graduates outperform or underperform the state average.

The practical question: Are you comfortable betting $27,000 on outcomes that mirror the Minnesota median, when programs with documented success stories exist nearby? If Saint Scholastica offers unique advantages—location flexibility, specific faculty expertise, or a campus culture that fits—it could justify that uncertainty. But purely on projected numbers, you're looking at an average financial outcome with no track record to confirm it.