Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at The College of Saint Scholastica

A debt load of roughly $26,000 against first-year earnings near $40,000 puts this program in manageable territory, though the lack of actual graduate outcomes means you're betting on national trends rather than proven results from Saint Scholastica specifically. Similar communications programs across the country typically produce earnings in this range, and Minnesota's benchmark of $40,238 suggests the state offers slightly better prospects than the national median. The estimated 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio indicates graduates would dedicate about 65% of a year's salary to paying off loans—reasonable by today's standards.

The challenge is that communications fields are notoriously variable in outcomes, and without actual data from Saint Scholastica's graduates, it's difficult to know whether this program connects students effectively to Minnesota's media and corporate communications markets. The school's 94% admission rate and modest selectivity suggest it may not have the same industry pipelines as larger state universities. When peer programs at Northwestern-St Paul and Minnesota State Moorhead report similar earnings with actual data, it reinforces that this salary range is achievable—but also that Saint Scholastica offers no clear advantage.

Your child could reasonably manage this debt load in a communications career, but you're essentially taking the national average as your guide. If they're set on this field and this school fits otherwise, the financial picture isn't alarming. Just recognize you're proceeding without proof that Saint Scholastica's specific connections and curriculum deliver on that promise.