Bachelor's+2% vs national median1,692 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at Colorado State University
Ranked 79th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,875
middle 50%: $27,752 – $49,725
Median · 5 years out
$59,848
middle 50%: $45,519 – $79,010
Median · 10 years out
$78,053
middle 50%: $57,933 – $112,512
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Communication and Media Studies (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Communication and Media Studies graduates at Colorado State University earn $38k in their first year. Pay increases to $60k by year five and $78k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,501 total interest
Same major at other universities
Augsburg University
$60,304 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$60,304 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
$60,234 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$60,211 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$60,210 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$60,097 · 5 yrs out
College of Staten Island/CUNY
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Hamline University
$59,560 · 5 yrs out
Worcester State University
$59,464 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$59,405 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$59,311 · 5 yrs out
Valparaiso University
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Colorado State University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$212,009 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$135,185 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$131,863 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$127,509 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$125,457 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Bachelor's)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Bachelor's)
$120,903 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,842 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$108,642 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$107,710 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$106,687 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$106,500 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Compare universities
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
Compare universities
Journalism
Compare universities
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Compare universities
Publishing
Compare universities
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Compare universities