WhatGradsMake
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

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $40,875 one year after graduating, rising to $73,278 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 0% above the national median of $58,421 for this field, ranking 94th 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
7.2 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
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 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

Related fields of study

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Compare universities
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
Compare universities
Journalism
Compare universities
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Compare universities
Publishing
Compare universities
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Compare universities