Communication and Media Studies: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Communication and Media Studies graduates earn a median $56,359 four years after finishing — $7,999/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 8.5 years. Federal data pools 925 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 48,983 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Communication and Media Studies ranks #127 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 38% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania | PA | $114,266 |
| 2 | Northwestern University | IL | $93,541 |
| 3 | Cornell University | NY | $88,463 |
| 4 | Santa Clara University | CA | $84,206 |
| 5 | Boston College | MA | $83,586 |
| 6 | Villanova University | PA | $81,497 |
| 7 | Boston University | MA | $80,306 |
| 8 | Northeastern University | MA | $80,191 |
| 9 | Northeastern University Professional Programs | MA | $80,191 |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $79,648 |
| 11 | George Washington University | DC | $79,112 |
| 12 | Emory University | GA | $78,866 |
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 Communication and Media Studies pay grow after graduation?
From $34,181 one year out to $56,359 four years out — a $22,178 climb, or 65% 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 Communication and Media Studies each year?
About 48,983 bachelor's graduates a year across 925 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.