Master's+4% vs national median290 grads tracked
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at Colorado State University
Ranked 30th of 124 master's programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$61,155
middle 50%: $45,860 – $77,362
Median · 5 years out
$74,959
middle 50%: $60,404 – $98,814
Median · 10 years out
$90,020
middle 50%: $63,950 – $125,246
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (master's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Communication and journalism masters graduates at Colorado State University start at $61k. Ten-year median salaries reach $90k.
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
5.3 yrs
≈ $5,694 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$75,467 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$75,391 · 5 yrs out
Fitchburg State University
$75,329 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$75,253 · 5 yrs out
Southern Utah University
$75,158 · 5 yrs out
Bethel University
$74,986 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$74,902 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$74,186 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$73,822 · 5 yrs out
Quinnipiac University
$73,442 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$73,194 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$73,093 · 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
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