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UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 0901

Communication and Media Studies: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?

National picture across 5 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$47,296 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$47,296Median year-4 earnings

$21,575Average institution net-price context

$23,062Median federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$47,296Median reported earnings · year 4

$48,438Average reported earnings · year 5

$23,062Median federal debt

44thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

5Reporting programs

5With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

CURRENT VIEW

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $47,296
Federal debt: $23,062
Reporting programs: 5

5 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $44,143
Federal debt: $11,944
Reporting programs: 64

64 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $54,091
Federal debt: $25,000
Reporting programs: 699

673 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $68,613
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $68,404
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 61

61 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $76,868
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 5

5 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $98,037
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $70,332
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median

25th percentile$45,937National median$47,29675th percentile$53,531

5 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$68,990 2Cabrillo College$53,531 3Reedley College$47,296 4Black Hills State University$45,937 5Full Sail University$37,679

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Communications Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1122 · 3 crosswalk linksPublic Relations ManagersSOC 11-2032 · 3 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 3 crosswalk linksBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysSOC 27-3011 · 2 crosswalk linksEditorsSOC 27-3041 · 2 crosswalk linksNews Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsSOC 27-3023 · 2 crosswalk linksPublic Relations SpecialistsSOC 27-3031 · 2 crosswalk linksFundraisersSOC 13-1131 · 1 crosswalk linksFundraising ManagersSOC 11-2033 · 1 crosswalk linksMedia and Communication Workers, All OtherSOC 27-3099 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Pittsburgh, PA	$68,990	$25,000	Baseline needed	$30,434
2	Cabrillo CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Aptos, CA	$53,531	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,843
3	Reedley CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Reedley, CA	$47,296	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,814
4	Black Hills State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Spearfish, SD	$45,937	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,911
5	Full Sail UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Winter Park, FL	$37,679	$21,124	Baseline needed	$38,875

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.