Communication and Media Studies: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 699 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$169,608 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
28.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
−65%Modeled 10-year ROI
$54,091Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$54,091Median reported earnings · year 4
$53,899Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,000Median federal debt
32thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
699Reporting programs
673With year-4 earnings
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.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,296
- Federal debt
- $23,062
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $44,143
- Federal debt
- $11,944
- Reporting programs
- 64
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,091
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 699
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,613
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,404
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 61
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $76,868
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $98,037
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,332
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
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$48,264National median$54,09175th percentile$59,969
673 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Pennsylvania$114,2662Northwestern University$93,5413Cornell University$88,4634Santa Clara University$84,2065Boston College$83,5866Villanova University$81,4977Boston University$80,3068Northeastern University$80,1919Northeastern University Professional Programs$80,19110University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$79,648Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
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
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $114,266 | $15,637 | +135% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $93,541 | $18,112 | +64% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $88,463 | $14,418 | +47% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Santa Clara UniversityBachelor's Degree | Santa Clara, CA | $84,206 | $18,500 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Boston CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chestnut Hill, MA | $83,586 | $18,500 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Villanova UniversityBachelor's Degree | Villanova, PA | $81,497 | $26,456 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $80,306 | $25,108 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $80,191 | $23,250 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $80,191 | $23,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $79,648 | $20,376 | +49% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $79,112 | $25,000 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Emory UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $78,866 | $21,000 | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Fairfield UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfield, CT | $78,081 | $27,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Wake Forest UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winston-Salem, NC | $77,984 | $22,250 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Fordham UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $77,244 | $25,700 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Tulane University of LouisianaBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $76,945 | $23,082 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $76,243 | $21,230 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Roanoke CollegeBachelor's Degree | Salem, VA | $76,198 | $26,975 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Purdue University GlobalBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $75,906 | Not available | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $75,864 | $17,702 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $75,612 | $11,180 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $75,223 | $14,928 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Marist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $74,726 | $26,000 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Manhattan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverdale, NY | $74,471 | $26,000 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $74,402 | $20,000 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $73,750 | $23,250 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Hobart William Smith CollegesBachelor's Degree | Geneva, NY | $73,650 | $27,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Gonzaga UniversityBachelor's Degree | Spokane, WA | $73,558 | $23,375 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Chapman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orange, CA | $73,461 | $19,500 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | The Catholic University of AmericaBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $73,073 | $27,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $72,976 | $13,018 | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | St Lawrence UniversityBachelor's Degree | Canton, NY | $72,839 | $25,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $72,778 | $13,000 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $72,758 | $19,750 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $72,564 | $14,125 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 36 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $72,210 | $20,500 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | Loyola University MarylandBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $71,948 | $27,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Simmons UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $71,138 | $26,000 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Stonehill CollegeBachelor's Degree | Easton, MA | $70,618 | $25,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Roger Williams UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bristol, RI | $70,575 | $26,000 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $70,532 | $16,500 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $70,414 | $25,000 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | Willamette UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salem, OR | $70,412 | $26,000 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $70,240 | $15,500 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 45 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $70,106 | $27,000 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | CUNY City CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $69,948 | $15,827 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 47 | Pace UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $69,876 | $26,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $69,709 | $25,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $69,573 | $27,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Peter, MN | $69,423 | $27,000 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Saint Anselm CollegeBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $69,288 | $27,000 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | DePauw UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greencastle, IN | $69,228 | $27,000 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $69,144 | $19,500 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $69,098 | $27,000 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | University of New Hampshire at ManchesterBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $69,098 | $27,000 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 56 | University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies OnlineBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $69,098 | $27,000 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 57 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $69,034 | $26,543 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 58 | University of Nevada-RenoBachelor's Degree | Reno, NV | $68,953 | $17,688 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | University of San DiegoBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $68,913 | $25,000 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $68,843 | $22,530 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Sonoma State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rohnert Park, CA | $68,833 | $17,129 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 62 | The College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Ewing, NJ | $68,654 | $23,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | University of San FranciscoBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $68,592 | $23,250 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $68,542 | $24,068 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $68,542 | $24,068 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 66 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $68,542 | $24,068 | +0% | Positive payoff |
| 67 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $68,542 | $24,068 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $68,542 | $24,068 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Bryant UniversityBachelor's Degree | Smithfield, RI | $68,518 | $27,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $68,319 | $22,500 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Washington & Jefferson CollegeBachelor's Degree | Washington, PA | $68,066 | $27,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Woodbury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Burbank, CA | $68,020 | Not available | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | American UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $67,863 | $22,611 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $67,302 | $14,568 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | University of DaytonBachelor's Degree | Dayton, OH | $67,231 | $25,375 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | University of Maryland Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Adelphi, MD | $67,181 | $27,971 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | University of La VerneBachelor's Degree | La Verne, CA | $66,891 | $22,500 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Denison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Granville, OH | $66,730 | $25,187 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $66,623 | $17,500 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $66,439 | $19,500 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $66,436 | $21,502 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Saint Mary's CollegeBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $66,335 | $27,000 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $66,106 | $20,613 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Queens University of CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $65,985 | $27,000 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $65,517 | $18,500 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Norwich UniversityBachelor's Degree | Northfield, VT | $65,497 | $27,000 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | McDaniel CollegeBachelor's Degree | Westminster, MD | $65,411 | $25,000 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | University of St ThomasBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $64,917 | $27,000 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Lake Forest CollegeBachelor's Degree | Lake Forest, IL | $64,580 | $27,000 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $64,533 | $17,782 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | University of Rhode IslandBachelor's Degree | Kingston, RI | $64,520 | $24,887 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Moraga, CA | $64,456 | $23,250 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | College of Saint BenedictBachelor's Degree | Saint Joseph, MN | $64,430 | $27,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Merrimack CollegeBachelor's Degree | North Andover, MA | $64,345 | $25,783 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $64,153 | $16,433 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $64,153 | $16,433 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $64,153 | $16,433 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshBachelor's Degree | Oshkosh, WI | $64,103 | $26,534 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Furman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greenville, SC | $64,014 | $22,631 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Keene State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Keene, NH | $63,995 | $25,000 | -24% | Negative payoff |
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.