Communication and Media Studies: bachelor's degree earnings by college

Median earnings of communication and media studies graduates (bachelor's degree) one year after graduation, at 606 colleges. National median: $42,092, rising to $54,257 after four years.

#CollegeStateEarnings after 1 yrAfter 4 yrsMedian debt
1CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNY$65,607$72,564$12,500
2University of PennsylvaniaPA$65,287$114,266—
3Northwestern UniversityIL$64,034$93,541$19,500
4Cornell UniversityNY$63,499$88,463$10,000
5Santa Clara UniversityCA$62,295$84,206$19,000
6The University of Arizona Global CampusAZ$61,299$61,909—
7Wake Forest UniversityNC$59,986$77,984$17,301
8The Catholic University of AmericaDC$59,810$73,073$26,000
9Colorado State University GlobalCO$59,368$62,743—
10California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA$59,292$75,223$14,091
11Southern Methodist UniversityTX$57,636$74,407—
12Villanova UniversityPA$57,318$81,497$21,500
13University of Southern CaliforniaCA$57,017$75,864$16,360
14Denison UniversityOH$56,751$66,730$25,000
15Saint Mary's CollegeIN$56,729$66,335$25,000
16University of Maryland Global CampusMD$56,606$67,181$19,038
17Boston CollegeMA$56,442$83,586$18,967
18American UniversityDC$56,275$67,863—
19University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI$55,475$79,648$19,500
20Concordia University-IrvineCA$55,278$56,388—
21The University of Texas Permian BasinTX$55,254$60,805$13,500
22Northeastern University OaklandCA$55,226$80,191$23,245
23Northeastern UniversityMA$55,226$80,191$23,245
24Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMA$55,226$80,191$23,245
25Boston UniversityMA$54,804$80,306$17,750
26Texas Christian UniversityTX$54,632$63,531$21,500
27St Lawrence UniversityNY$54,530$72,839$26,000
28Emerson CollegeMA$54,462$59,202$21,500
29The College of New JerseyNJ$54,244$68,654$19,500
30Elon UniversityNC$54,242$73,750$19,500
31George Washington UniversityDC$54,206$79,112—
32University of ArizonaAZ$54,066$72,758$15,500
33University of California-Los AngelesCA$53,885—$12,732
34University of Maryland-College ParkMD$53,870$74,402$15,000
35Hobart William Smith CollegesNY$53,637$73,650$26,250
36Brigham Young UniversityUT$53,481$68,843$11,000
37Fordham UniversityNY$53,270$77,244$24,625
38Metropolitan State UniversityMN$53,018$61,355$13,106
39University of Virginia-Main CampusVA$52,931$76,243$13,050
40College of Saint BenedictMN$52,610$64,430$27,000
41Syracuse UniversityNY$52,563$70,106$21,000
42University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusCO$52,423$62,882$18,500
43CUNY City CollegeNY$52,335$69,948$10,000
44Texas A&M University-College StationTX$52,276$64,533$15,000
45University of California-BerkeleyCA$52,119$75,612$11,132
46Utah Valley UniversityUT$51,881$62,566—
47Westmont CollegeCA$51,829$62,535$20,000
48University of DaytonOH$51,586$67,231$19,500
49DePauw UniversityIN$51,432$69,228$27,000
50University of California-Santa BarbaraCA$51,428$72,976$11,108
51University of Wisconsin-OshkoshWI$51,340$64,103$21,000
52High Point UniversityNC$51,328—$23,250
53Loyola Marymount UniversityCA$51,178$69,144$18,000
54Purdue University-Main CampusIN$51,071$65,517$16,750
55Bryant UniversityRI$51,009$68,518$23,105
56Fairfield UniversityCT$50,903$78,081$26,980
57Tulane University of LouisianaLA$50,714$76,945$19,500
58The University of Texas at AustinTX$50,706$72,210$15,625
59University of Phoenix-ArizonaAZ$50,664$57,523$32,788
60Xavier UniversityOH$50,608$53,800—
61University of Colorado BoulderCO$50,524$66,623$16,750
62University of KansasKS$50,341$60,258$19,750
63Gonzaga UniversityWA$50,329$73,558$21,500
64University of Illinois SpringfieldIL$50,169$52,588$16,543
65Minnesota State University-MankatoMN$49,968$56,119$19,500
66Nevada State UniversityNV$49,904——
67Saint Johns UniversityMN$49,881$67,861$27,000
68Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ$49,768$61,193$18,286
69Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ$49,768$61,193$18,286
70The University of AlabamaAL$49,758$61,548$19,625
71St. John Fisher UniversityNY$49,734$58,279$19,500
72Loyola University MarylandMD$49,691$71,948$26,000
73University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH$49,587$69,098$25,000
74University of New Hampshire at ManchesterNH$49,587$69,098$25,000
75University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies OnlineNH$49,587$69,098$25,000
76Baylor UniversityTX$49,439$58,915$20,375
77Bethel UniversityMN$49,414$53,868$23,000
78Valparaiso UniversityIN$49,398$50,325—
79University of GeorgiaGA$49,342$68,319$14,988
80St. Mary's UniversityTX$49,315$41,814—
81Lake Forest CollegeIL$49,314$64,580—
82University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNC$49,277$70,240$12,500
83Emmanuel CollegeMA$48,955$60,110$27,000
84Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ$48,949$69,709$18,110
85Merrimack CollegeMA$48,944$64,345$25,000
86Furman UniversitySC$48,837$64,014$23,250
87James Madison UniversityVA$48,809$66,436$20,096
88Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA$48,643$66,106$19,500
89John Carroll UniversityOH$48,604$62,270$23,124
90Stonehill CollegeMA$48,555$70,618$25,000
91Hanover CollegeIN$48,346$58,227$26,053
92San Francisco State UniversityCA$48,274$63,731$15,000
93University of Massachusetts-BostonMA$48,261$60,411$22,448
94Northern Illinois UniversityIL$48,258$55,109$21,236
95Keene State CollegeNH$48,233$63,995$25,637
96Siena UniversityNY$48,233——
97Nazareth UniversityNY$48,221$53,695—
98Texas A&M University-VictoriaTX$48,209$52,435$18,094
99University of Rhode IslandRI$48,080$64,520$19,500
100University of ArkansasAR$48,035$56,969$18,887
101University of DelawareDE$47,911$70,414$22,250
102Gustavus Adolphus CollegeMN$47,901$69,423$27,000
103University of DenverCO$47,839$63,374$18,837
104Rollins CollegeFL$47,828$62,086$25,500
105University of Missouri-ColumbiaMO$47,814$61,007$15,000
106Randolph-Macon CollegeVA$47,801$61,867$26,229
107University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOH$47,781$56,818$21,050
108University of Nevada-RenoNV$47,778$68,953$15,000
109Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityOK$47,681$42,000—
110University of Minnesota-DuluthMN$47,680$60,023$19,500
111University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA$47,679$64,153$12,516
112University of Washington-Bothell CampusWA$47,679$64,153$12,516
113University of Washington-Tacoma CampusWA$47,679$64,153$12,516
114Arkansas State UniversityAR$47,531$44,327—
115Lewis & Clark CollegeOR$47,508$53,026$19,500
116University of IowaIA$47,370$60,737$21,500
117Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaCA$47,355$64,456$23,125
118State University of New York at PlattsburghNY$47,333$51,715$25,125
119Ohio Wesleyan UniversityOH$47,298——
120University of Houston-DowntownTX$47,207$56,903$18,125
121California State University-East BayCA$47,189$57,708$16,416
122California State University-San MarcosCA$47,149$59,842$15,467
123Chapman UniversityCA$47,137$73,461$18,750
124Messiah UniversityPA$47,091$42,026—
125Ohio State University-Main CampusOH$46,999$62,096$17,764
126Concordia College at MoorheadMN$46,977$52,248$25,000
127Manhattan UniversityNY$46,902$74,471$24,559
128Belmont UniversityTN$46,835$48,737$18,830
129Utica UniversityNY$46,825$44,969$23,862
130Seattle Pacific UniversityWA$46,815$62,411—
131University of UtahUT$46,807$63,309$16,067
132North Carolina State University at RaleighNC$46,760$62,039$16,800
133Towson UniversityMD$46,742$63,292$18,000
134Francis Marion UniversitySC$46,669$38,932—
135University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOK$46,648$57,453$19,500
136Wilmington UniversityDE$46,640——
137George Fox UniversityOR$46,632—$26,944
138Grand Canyon UniversityAZ$46,438$54,622$24,562
139Portland State UniversityOR$46,427$59,232$17,750
140California Baptist UniversityCA$46,159$60,883$21,000
141Bellevue UniversityNE$46,150$61,294—
142Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPA$46,120$59,929$23,250
143University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI$46,117$61,270$18,125
144Marist UniversityNY$45,989$74,726$22,812
145LIM CollegeNY$45,980—$25,500
146George Mason UniversityVA$45,906—$15,745
147Iowa State UniversityIA$45,887$57,110$19,425
148Missouri Western State UniversityMO$45,837$55,059—
149The University of MontanaMT$45,821$54,300$19,000
150Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusNJ$45,793$57,829$21,875
151Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusNJ$45,793$57,829$21,875
152Central Washington UniversityWA$45,724$56,862$18,774
153University of Central MissouriMO$45,688$52,463$16,250
154University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$45,667$66,439$15,000
155Wittenberg UniversityOH$45,653$56,711—
156California State University-SacramentoCA$45,623$59,404$15,000
157University of HoustonTX$45,595$49,545—
158Simmons UniversityMA$45,552$71,138$26,750
159Muhlenberg CollegePA$45,466$58,473$23,927
160Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegePA$45,444$55,505$22,488
161Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New KensingtonPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
162Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarrePA$45,444$55,505$22,488
163Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
164Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BeaverPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
165Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
166Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
167Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywinePA$45,444$55,505$22,488
168Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- EberlyPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
169Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
170Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater AlleghenyPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
171Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
172Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA$45,444$55,505$22,488
173Loyola University ChicagoIL$45,386$58,256$21,500
174Eastern Illinois UniversityIL$45,375$57,887$16,000
175Illinois State UniversityIL$45,319$60,414$14,384
176University of MaineME$45,309$58,306$21,500
177Wartburg CollegeIA$45,308$48,433$25,852
178Saint Michael's CollegeVT$45,189$59,313—
179University of California-DavisCA$45,174$72,778$11,000
180Christopher Newport UniversityVA$45,170$57,254$20,500
181Michigan State UniversityMI$45,044$60,807$19,500
182Indiana University-BloomingtonIN$45,006$63,855$18,500
183San Diego State UniversityCA$44,976$61,389$14,000
184Northwest Missouri State UniversityMO$44,956$50,012$20,063
185Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIL$44,916$69,034—
186Houghton UniversityNY$44,833$45,134$23,250
187University of Wisconsin-La CrosseWI$44,821$56,470$20,437
188University of North Carolina at CharlotteNC$44,775$60,407$18,797
189Ohio University-Eastern CampusOH$44,757$54,695$19,458
190Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusOH$44,757$54,695$19,458
191Ohio University-Southern CampusOH$44,757$54,695$19,458
192Ohio University-Lancaster CampusOH$44,757$54,695$19,458
193Ohio University-Main CampusOH$44,757$54,695$19,458
194Ohio University-Zanesville CampusOH$44,757$54,695$19,458
195Westminster UniversityUT$44,718$59,676—
196Pace UniversityNY$44,703$69,876$21,750
197University of San DiegoCA$44,679$68,913$21,354
198Missouri State University-SpringfieldMO$44,674$50,065$18,750
199Saint Norbert CollegeWI$44,660$52,927$23,250
200Hope CollegeMI$44,658$55,166$25,000
201University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSC$44,648$53,247$22,000
202University of St ThomasMN$44,573$64,917$15,750
203Concordia University TexasTX$44,539——
204Saint Louis UniversityMO$44,524$57,787$20,000
205Texas Tech UniversityTX$44,524$58,196$20,000
206University of DubuqueIA$44,478$48,537$21,375
207University of Michigan-FlintMI$44,404$47,959$18,563
208University of Southern MaineME$44,400$53,033$18,000
209SUNY Old WestburyNY$44,399$47,095$15,856
210University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWI$44,275$55,152$24,250
211University of ConnecticutCT$44,213$68,542$18,350
212University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusCT$44,213$68,542$18,350
213University of Connecticut-Avery PointCT$44,213$68,542$18,350
214University of Connecticut-StamfordCT$44,213$68,542$18,350
215University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusCT$44,213$68,542$18,350
216California State University-Channel IslandsCA$44,144$59,332$11,885
217Southern Utah UniversityUT$44,095$44,461$11,250
218Roger Williams UniversityRI$44,081$70,575$26,730
219California Lutheran UniversityCA$44,059$61,653$18,500
220Chestnut Hill CollegePA$44,018$43,323—
221Ripon CollegeWI$43,991——
222The University of TampaFL$43,989$55,512$18,800
223Utah State UniversityUT$43,978$58,672$12,656
224Cedarville UniversityOH$43,923$34,958$15,000
225The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTN$43,900$57,394$16,500
226University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMD$43,885$60,957$19,500
227Dallas Baptist UniversityTX$43,835$48,598$17,559
228University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI$43,787$55,697$22,500
229University of KentuckyKY$43,783$55,653$20,500
230Saint Anselm CollegeNH$43,773$69,288$27,000
231Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionIN$43,768——
232Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalIN$43,768——
233Weber State UniversityUT$43,759$59,969$19,633
234Washburn UniversityKS$43,755$46,497$21,375
235DePaul UniversityIL$43,636$56,014$19,000
236The College of WoosterOH$43,623$60,884$27,000
237Wayne State UniversityMI$43,475$57,335$20,000
238Oral Roberts UniversityOK$43,471$39,535$23,250
239University of Minnesota-CrookstonMN$43,465$45,916$18,959
240Oakland UniversityMI$43,462$55,662$20,103
241University of Mount Saint VincentNY$43,439$50,940—
242SUNY College at GeneseoNY$43,434$63,577$20,000
243Salisbury UniversityMD$43,371$56,048$20,750
244University of Missouri-Kansas CityMO$43,366$49,135$15,125
245University of Central OklahomaOK$43,359——
246California State University-FullertonCA$43,310$58,082$12,500
247Northern Kentucky UniversityKY$43,299$53,082$23,000
248Minnesota State University MoorheadMN$43,246$52,838$14,350
249Brigham Young University-IdahoID$43,214$56,514$12,757
250Oregon State UniversityOR$43,210$61,096$16,000
251Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR$43,210$61,096$16,000
252Augustana CollegeIL$43,166$63,730$27,000
253Bloomfield College of Montclair State UniversityNJ$43,149$59,247$19,500
254Montclair State UniversityNJ$43,149$59,247$19,500
255University of Nebraska-LincolnNE$43,132$59,017$19,825
256Hawaii Pacific UniversityHI$43,124——
257Bridgewater State UniversityMA$43,107$56,968$21,013
258Cleveland State UniversityOH$43,096$48,688$20,192
259Stephen F Austin State UniversityTX$43,091$50,302$23,085
260Charleston Southern UniversitySC$42,942$50,824—
261University of South DakotaSD$42,919$52,100$22,250
262University of Northern ColoradoCO$42,913$56,520$22,000
263Colorado State University-Fort CollinsCO$42,911$61,434$16,500
264University of LouisvilleKY$42,892$55,636$19,416
265West Chester University of PennsylvaniaPA$42,870—$20,500
266University of Houston-Clear LakeTX$42,864$49,841$16,732
267Northern Michigan UniversityMI$42,851$47,875—
268University of North GeorgiaGA$42,808$51,131$13,080
269West Virginia UniversityWV$42,788—$25,000
270University of Wisconsin-Green BayWI$42,765$48,550$15,912
271University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA$42,754$69,573$18,750
272Marian UniversityIN$42,657——
273College of CharlestonSC$42,620$58,371$20,000
274University of HartfordCT$42,602$62,464$26,817
275Maryville University of Saint LouisMO$42,592——
276Western Illinois UniversityIL$42,576$51,203$20,000
277Indiana University-IndianapolisIN$42,568$51,397$13,124
278Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaPA$42,563$52,762$24,234
279Grand Valley State UniversityMI$42,561$46,938$20,989
280Lamar UniversityTX$42,554$49,746$22,300
281Le Moyne CollegeNY$42,536$47,382$23,251
282University of Massachusetts-AmherstMA$42,529$60,891$19,725
283Marymount UniversityVA$42,514——
284University of Northern IowaIA$42,476$53,506$16,870
285University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWI$42,460$48,982$19,500
286CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNY$42,400$57,024—
287University of Illinois ChicagoIL$42,388$56,845$14,000
288University of Central FloridaFL$42,354$58,783$16,750
289Lasell UniversityMA$42,340$53,172$27,000
290Wheaton CollegeIL$42,302$60,695$25,499
291Pacific Lutheran UniversityWA$42,278$57,317$19,000
292Longwood UniversityVA$42,255$53,631$22,000
293Texas State UniversityTX$42,236$53,009$19,500
294University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireWI$42,219$58,043$18,187
295Miami University-HamiltonOH$42,193$55,919$20,000
296Miami University-MiddletownOH$42,193$55,919$20,000
297Miami University-OxfordOH$42,193$55,919$20,000
298Governors State UniversityIL$42,180$47,475—
299Temple UniversityPA$42,172$54,283$24,250
300Eastern Michigan UniversityMI$42,159$52,805$24,050

Earnings are median annual earnings of graduates who received federal financial aid, measured by the U.S. Department of Education. Colleges with too few graduates are not shown.

Frequently asked questions

How much do communication and media studies graduates earn?

The median college reports $42,092 in earnings one year after a bachelor's degree in communication and media studies and $54,257 four years after. The highest is $65,607 at CUNY Graduate School and University Center.

How much student debt do communication and media studies graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for this degree is about $20,428 at the typical college.