Communication and Media Studies at University of Wisconsin-Superior

UW-Superior's communication program graduates earn $41,371 in their first year—about $3,200 above the Wisconsin median and roughly $6,400 above the national average for this major. This puts graduates in the 83rd percentile nationally, landing them close to the state's top-performing programs at Edgewood and UW-Oshkosh. The $28,500 in typical debt is slightly above state norms but remains manageable at a 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than nine months of their starting salary.

The catch: earnings barely budge after four years, rising just $310. This flat trajectory means there's little financial cushion if early career momentum stalls. Among the 27 Wisconsin schools offering this major, UW-Superior sits comfortably in the middle tier—respectable but not exceptional. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) also means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, so they shouldn't be taken as gospel.

For families prioritizing immediate job prospects over long-term salary growth, this program delivers solid entry-level earnings with reasonable debt. Just understand you're likely betting on your child's ability to leverage that communications degree into career moves that the data doesn't yet capture, since salary progression appears minimal for those who stay in similar roles.