Bachelor's+15% vs national median3,416 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at University of Colorado Boulder
Ranked 15th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$42,132
middle 50%: $29,916 – $56,067
Median · 5 years out
$67,162
middle 50%: $48,784 – $94,321
Median · 10 years out
$86,957
middle 50%: $59,502 – $130,787
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 majors at CU Boulder earn $42k in year 1. Salaries climb to $87k by the tenth year.
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
6.4 yrs
≈ $7,547 total interest
Same major at other universities
Texas A&M University
$70,072 · 5 yrs out
Utah Valley University
$69,615 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$69,303 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
James Madison University
$68,505 · 5 yrs out
Saint John's University
$67,226 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$67,110 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts at Boston
$66,946 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$66,886 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$66,714 · 5 yrs out
Quinnipiac University
$66,514 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Colorado Boulder
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$179,121 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$162,413 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$136,557 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$134,060 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,503 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$121,397 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$118,475 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$115,546 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,642 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$111,405 · 5 yrs out
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,066 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$104,453 · 5 yrs out
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