Bachelor's+7% vs national median4,491 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at University of Iowa
Ranked 45th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$41,388
middle 50%: $30,555 – $52,703
Median · 5 years out
$62,759
middle 50%: $48,515 – $84,007
Median · 10 years out
$81,246
middle 50%: $58,552 – $116,161
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 the University of Iowa start at $41k. Median pay climbs to $63k after five years and $81k after 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
6.8 yrs
≈ $7,909 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of the District of Columbia
$63,214 · 5 yrs out
Wheaton College
$63,134 · 5 yrs out
Furman University
$63,113 · 5 yrs out
Hanover College
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$62,776 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$62,669 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Downtown
$62,623 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$62,528 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University
$62,349 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$62,246 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$62,075 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Iowa
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$197,724 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$173,339 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$167,710 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$157,015 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,198 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$144,877 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$121,670 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$114,999 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$112,327 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$112,327 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$107,625 · 5 yrs out
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