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Communication and Media Studies at St Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,606/yr (27% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 2.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #345 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Communication and Media Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$533K	$528K	$486K
Earnings Multiple	2.7x	2.7x	2.4x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	35	34	26

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$199,032

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$86,252

57% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,918

7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$55,753

25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

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.

About St Catherine University

St Catherine University accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 2,393 in Saint Paul, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $86,252 — 57% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at St Catherine University →

Top Career Paths

Public relations managers $138,520/yr

Fundraising managers $123,480/yr

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at St Catherine University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →