WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-14% vs national median1,056 grads tracked

Communication and Media Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Ranked 205th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$34,973
middle 50%: $25,770 – $44,695
Median · 5 years out
$50,417
middle 50%: $38,863 – $65,590
Median · 10 years out
$64,718
middle 50%: $48,266 – $83,800

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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's bachelor's program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $34,973 one year after graduating, rising to $64,718 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $58,421 for this field, ranking 205th 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
8.3 yrs
≈ $9,869 total interest

Same major at other universities

Cleveland State University
$50,757 · 5 yrs out
SUNY at Fredonia
$50,600 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
$50,591 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University Moorhead
$50,577 · 5 yrs out
Benedictine University
$50,471 · 5 yrs out
Indiana State University
$50,441 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Monroe
$50,412 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$50,378 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University Southeast
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southmost College
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Angelo State University
$50,297 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Harrisburg
$50,289 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$168,009 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$156,616 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,805 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,993 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,392 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$102,790 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$98,753 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$96,425 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$94,896 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$93,766 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$89,231 · 5 yrs out

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