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Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Tennessee State University

Nashville, TN · Public · Federal field 0901

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$13,238 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
71.0% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−108% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+63%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$25,140$40,921
33Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
37Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
61Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
104Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$27,000Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$15,796

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$30,625

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$43,121

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$325/mo

Estimated 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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$15,796Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,637Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE70.1%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE34.0%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.

$25,140Year 1
$43,121Year 4
$40,921Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

9.0% 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$3,593
Estimated loan payment$325
104borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$43,121 vs. $56,359

$13,238 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$127,390 median wageTN estimate · 700 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$66,630 median wageTN estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$58,870 median wageTN estimate · 1,260 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,390 median wageTN estimate · 600 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$60,900 median wageTN estimate · 3,380 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$59,550 median wageTN estimate · 1,390 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$48,290 median wageTN estimate · 970 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$107,760 median wageTN estimate · 300 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$61,370 median wageTN estimate · 1,930 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$45,670 median wageTN estimate · 630 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
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Chattanooga, TN

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

$5,091 higher earnings · $8,794 less debt · $1,531 lower annual net price

Earnings
$48,212
Debt
$21,831
Annual net price
$14,265
View outcomes →
Murfreesboro, TN

Middle Tennessee State University

$2,034 higher earnings · $6,296 less debt · $2,437 lower annual net price

Earnings
$45,155
Debt
$24,329
Annual net price
$13,359
View outcomes →
Martin, TN

The University of Tennessee-Martin

$1,110 higher earnings · $6,144 less debt · $5,095 lower annual net price

Earnings
$44,231
Debt
$24,481
Annual net price
$10,701
View outcomes →
Clarksville, TN

Austin Peay State University

$390 higher earnings · $5,625 less debt · $6,061 lower annual net price

Earnings
$43,511
Debt
$25,000
Annual net price
$9,735
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

61 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.

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