WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-2% vs national median249 grads tracked

Communication and Media Studies at Elmhurst University

Ranked 107th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,793
middle 50%: $30,565 – $50,392
Median · 5 years out
$57,508
middle 50%: $41,985 – $70,798
Median · 10 years out
$67,887
middle 50%: $52,387 – $91,706

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 Elmhurst University's bachelor's program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $40,793 one year after graduating, rising to $67,887 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% below the national median of $58,421 for this field, ranking 107th 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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,416 total interest

Same major at other universities

East Carolina University
$58,008 · 5 yrs out
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
Eastern Illinois University
$57,465 · 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

Other majors at Elmhurst University

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$118,787 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$113,771 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$111,686 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$91,818 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$90,251 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$89,645 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Master's)
$88,942 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$85,633 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$84,610 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$82,708 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$79,471 · 5 yrs out

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