← All outcomesPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFFCommunication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL · Public · Federal field 0901
Data scopeFederal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.
OUTCOME SIGNALSGraduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+46%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$32,538 → $47,40270Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort83Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort102Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median88Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential 01 · PRICE CONTEXT$14,109Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$15,630Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$48,247Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$166/moEstimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Enter my price → AVERAGE NET PRICE$14,109Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$26,960Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE74.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE21.6%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?Reported earnings after completion.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$32,538Year 1
$48,247Year 4
$47,402Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?4.1% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$4,021
Estimated loan payment$166
88borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?$48,247 vs. $56,359
$8,112 below the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections. Public Relations Managers$131,990 median wageIL estimate · 2,770 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,150 median wageIL estimate · 1,580 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$68,220 median wageIL estimate · 2,640 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$76,380 median wageIL estimate · 6,200 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$76,060 median wageIL estimate · 4,560 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$60,590 median wageIL estimate · 1,060 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,720 median wageIL estimate · 770 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$106,290 median wageIL estimate · 2,860 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$66,440 median wageIL estimate · 4,470 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$60,730 median wageIL estimate · 19,590 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentNO MATCHNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 99-9999
IS THERE A BETTER ROUTE?Comparable programs worth checking.
Same federal field and credential, ranked by observed earnings minus reported federal debt. Compare actual price, format and fit before deciding.
Philadelphia, PAUniversity of Pennsylvania
- Earnings
- $114,266
- Debt
- $15,637
View outcomes →West Lafayette, INPurdue University Global
- Earnings
- $75,906
- Debt
- Not available
View outcomes →Evanston, ILNorthwestern University
- Earnings
- $93,541
- Debt
- $18,112
View outcomes → DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
102 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?Your price and current earnings determine the result.
Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.
Calculate my payoff →