WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+3% vs national median899 grads tracked

Communication and Media Studies at University of Illinois Chicago

Ranked 72nd of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,133
middle 50%: $27,845 – $49,744
Median · 5 years out
$60,434
middle 50%: $45,950 – $78,232
Median · 10 years out
$80,763
middle 50%: $57,389 – $110,205

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 University of Illinois Chicago's bachelor's program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $39,133 one year after graduating, rising to $80,763 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% above the national median of $58,421 for this field, ranking 72nd 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 yrs
≈ $8,309 total interest

Same major at other universities

Randolph - Macon College
$60,622 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Berks
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oneonta
$60,586 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Geneseo
$60,582 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$60,577 · 5 yrs out
Augsburg University
$60,304 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$60,304 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
$60,234 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$60,211 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$60,210 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$60,097 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Illinois Chicago

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$203,383 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$155,322 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,199 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$146,852 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,939 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$139,846 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$135,535 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$133,429 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$123,770 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$117,024 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$115,930 · 5 yrs out

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