WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+7% vs national median2,812 grads tracked

Communication and Media Studies at Purdue University

Ranked 50th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,585
middle 50%: $29,328 – $53,130
Median · 5 years out
$62,246
middle 50%: $46,079 – $82,445
Median · 10 years out
$81,252
middle 50%: $57,194 – $118,818

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 Purdue University's bachelor's program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $40,585 one year after graduating, rising to $81,252 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% above the national median of $58,421 for this field, ranking 50th 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
6.8 yrs
≈ $8,025 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Alabama
$62,776 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$62,759 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$62,669 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Downtown
$62,623 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$62,528 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University
$62,349 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$62,075 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$61,994 · 5 yrs out
Fitchburg State University
$61,879 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$61,394 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Cortland
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
Christopher Newport University
$61,241 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Purdue University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$219,424 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$162,085 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$160,199 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,081 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$151,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$141,828 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$122,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Doctorate)
$122,253 · 5 yrs out

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