Bachelor's-16% vs national median227 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at Indiana University - East
Ranked 237th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$40,793
middle 50%: $30,681 – $55,552
Median · 5 years out
$48,829
middle 50%: $37,867 – $70,870
Median · 10 years out
$65,986
middle 50%: $42,878 – $93,187
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
Media studies bachelor's graduates report a median starting salary of $41k. By year ten, median earnings reach $66k.
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
8.1 yrs
≈ $9,261 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Wisconsin - Superior
$49,326 · 5 yrs out
West Texas A&M University
$49,308 · 5 yrs out
Bemidji State University
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University - North Central
$49,073 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Oklahoma
$49,004 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$48,898 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University-Pueblo
$48,829 · 5 yrs out
Columbia College
$48,829 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois at Springfield
$48,823 · 5 yrs out
Eureka College
$48,715 · 5 yrs out
Western Carolina University
$48,708 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$48,637 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Indiana University - East
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$77,282 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$77,282 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$65,392 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$65,392 · 5 yrs out
Education (Master's)
$63,105 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)
$61,495 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Bachelor's)
$61,343 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Bachelor's)
$58,998 · 5 yrs out
Philosophy and Religious Studies (Bachelor's)
$55,817 · 5 yrs out
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