Bachelor's0% vs national median3,655 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 94th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$40,875
middle 50%: $29,783 – $52,260
Median · 5 years out
$58,421
middle 50%: $44,310 – $76,328
Median · 10 years out
$73,278
middle 50%: $53,617 – $100,842
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 from Northern Illinois University earn $40,875 initially. Median earnings reach $73,278 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
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,308 total interest
Same major at other universities
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$58,925 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$58,849 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Brandywine
$58,734 · 5 yrs out
Bethel University
$58,568 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - York
$58,547 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$58,437 · 5 yrs out
Oregon Institute of Technology
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southern University
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$58,352 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$58,266 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$58,227 · 5 yrs out
College of Charleston
$58,190 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$92,179 · 5 yrs out
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