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DOCTORAL DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 0901

Communication and Media Studies: is this doctoral degree worth it?

National picture across 5 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$76,868 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.

$76,868Median year-4 earnings

$20,277Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

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

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$76,868Median reported earnings · year 4

$72,337Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

17thYear-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.

OPEN PROFILE

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 →CURRENT VIEW

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$75,616National median$76,86875th percentile$81,331

5 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Arizona State University Campus Immersion$82,068 2Regent University$81,331 3Indiana University-Bloomington$76,868 4Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$75,616 5University of Wisconsin-Madison$69,654

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	Arizona State University Campus ImmersionDoctoral Degree	Tempe, AZ	$82,068	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,967
2	Regent UniversityDoctoral Degree	Virginia Beach, VA	$81,331	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,923
3	Indiana University-BloomingtonDoctoral Degree	Bloomington, IN	$76,868	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,264
4	Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusDoctoral Degree	University Park, PA	$75,616	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,875
5	University of Wisconsin-MadisonDoctoral Degree	Madison, WI	$69,654	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,354

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.