Business/Corporate Communications: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Business/Corporate Communications graduates earn a median $65,784 four years after finishing — $17,424/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 3.9 years. Federal data pools 41 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 605 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Business/Corporate Communications ranks #87 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 57% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bentley University | MA | $80,781 |
| 2 | Chapman University | CA | $76,412 |
| 3 | Walden University | MN | $74,633 |
| 4 | Marquette University | WI | $71,711 |
| 5 | Walsh University | OH | $71,001 |
| 6 | Roosevelt University | IL | $70,005 |
| 7 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | NY | $69,215 |
| 8 | Duquesne University | PA | $65,898 |
| 9 | University of Houston | TX | $64,374 |
| 10 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | ND | $62,181 |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | WI | $61,411 |
| 12 | Point Loma Nazarene University | CA | $60,187 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Business/Corporate Communications pay grow after graduation?
From $32,445 one year out to $65,784 four years out — a $33,339 climb, or 103% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Business/Corporate Communications each year?
About 605 bachelor's graduates a year across 41 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.