WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-8% vs national median731 grads tracked

Communication and Media Studies at Ball State University

Ranked 157th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,209
middle 50%: $27,829 – $48,829
Median · 5 years out
$53,735
middle 50%: $40,974 – $71,136
Median · 10 years out
$69,566
middle 50%: $52,734 – $95,148

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 Ball State University's bachelor's program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $37,209 one year after graduating, rising to $69,566 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $58,421 for this field, ranking 157th 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
7.8 yrs
≈ $9,172 total interest

Same major at other universities

Truman State University
$54,115 · 5 yrs out
Salem State University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Midwestern State University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$53,999 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
$53,940 · 5 yrs out
Kennesaw State University
$53,767 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Tyler
$53,626 · 5 yrs out
Shenandoah University
$53,578 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Kansas City
$53,387 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$53,368 · 5 yrs out
University of Lynchburg
$53,330 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$53,312 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Ball State University

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$104,232 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$98,755 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$97,243 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$96,168 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$89,880 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$89,443 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$88,775 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$85,374 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$85,374 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$85,242 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$83,054 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,671 · 5 yrs out

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