Communication and Media Studies at University of Mary

A communications degree typically carries a debt load that approaches three-quarters of first-year earnings, and based on peer programs nationally, University of Mary's program appears to track this pattern. With estimated debt around $26,000 against first-year earnings near $35,000, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74—slightly above the federal benchmark of 0.67 that's often used to assess program value. The comparison to University of North Dakota's reported $34,963 median suggests these earnings estimates align reasonably with what similar North Dakota programs actually deliver.

The practical challenge here is cash flow in those early years. Even with relatively modest debt by national standards, monthly loan payments on $26,000 will consume a meaningful portion of a $35,000 salary, especially in a field where early-career wages don't typically surge upward quickly. Communications careers often require building experience and connections before seeing significant salary growth, which makes that initial financial margin tighter than in fields with steeper earning trajectories.

Given the uncertainty inherent in estimates derived from peer programs rather than actual graduate outcomes, the key question becomes whether your student has specific career goals in communications that justify this investment. If they're passionate about the field and have realistic expectations about entry-level media or corporate communications salaries, the debt burden here is manageable—but only barely. A gap year working to reduce borrowing, or aggressive loan repayment in those first years, could make a significant difference in their financial comfort post-graduation.