Bachelor's-2% vs national median2,036 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at Eastern Illinois University
Ranked 108th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$38,935
middle 50%: $28,466 – $50,740
Median · 5 years out
$57,465
middle 50%: $43,321 – $76,626
Median · 10 years out
$76,402
middle 50%: $55,092 – $108,156
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 Eastern Illinois University earn $38,935 in year one. Salaries reach $57,465 at five years and $76,402 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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,586 total interest
Same major at other universities
Mary Baldwin University
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Aurora University
$57,832 · 5 yrs out
Westfield State University
$57,631 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Connecticut State University
$57,625 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Kokomo
$57,537 · 5 yrs out
Elmhurst University
$57,508 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$57,438 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$57,419 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine
$57,334 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$57,301 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$57,292 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$57,247 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Eastern Illinois University
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$97,476 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$93,454 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$88,374 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$86,616 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$75,747 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$75,308 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$75,308 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$73,331 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$70,826 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$70,402 · 5 yrs out
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