Communication and Media Studiesat St Catherine University
Graduates earn $44,606/yr in their first year — about 27.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $528K; scenarios range from $486K to $533K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at St Catherine University
First-year earnings of $44,606 put St Catherine University's Communication and Media Studies program 27% above the national median of $35,147 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The financial case is thin at 2.7x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Communication and Media Studies's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $27,918 represents roughly 8 months of the $44,606 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #345 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, St Catherine University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $44,606 to $55,753 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to St Catherine University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies
How St Catherine University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at St Catherine University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at St Catherine University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communication and Media Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at St Catherine University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at St Catherine University?
A score of 34/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Communication and Media Studies careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $486,234 in decade earnings vs $533,282 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is St Catherine University a hidden gem for Communication and Media Studies?
After financial aid, the average student pays $86,252 over four years — 57% below the $199,032 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.