WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-7% vs national median922 grads tracked

Communication and Media Studies at University of Northern Iowa

Ranked 148th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$38,186
middle 50%: $28,989 – $49,040
Median · 5 years out
$54,392
middle 50%: $42,541 – $68,620
Median · 10 years out
$67,432
middle 50%: $49,855 – $89,682

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

Graduates of University of Northern Iowa's bachelor's program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $38,186 one year after graduating, rising to $67,432 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% below the national median of $58,421 for this field, ranking 148th of 307 reporting programs.

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
7.7 yrs
≈ $9,004 total interest

Same major at other universities

Utah Tech University
$54,970 · 5 yrs out
University of Indianapolis
$54,955 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$54,841 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Greater Allegheny
$54,679 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
$54,527 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$54,430 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$54,333 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$54,260 · 5 yrs out
Truman State University
$54,115 · 5 yrs out
Salem State University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Midwestern State University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$53,999 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Northern Iowa

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$105,135 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$104,398 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,633 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$97,512 · 5 yrs out
Statistics (Bachelor's)
$96,572 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$94,427 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$93,171 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$87,912 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$86,740 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$86,334 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$84,400 · 5 yrs out
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations (Bachelor's)
$81,295 · 5 yrs out

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