Bachelor's-2% vs national median1,945 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at St. Cloud State University
Ranked 114th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,916
middle 50%: $28,621 – $48,394
Median · 5 years out
$57,247
middle 50%: $44,325 – $73,074
Median · 10 years out
$75,717
middle 50%: $57,024 – $99,884
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
This program yields a first-year median salary of $38k. By year ten, earnings reach $76k.
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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,723 total interest
Same major at other universities
Eastern Illinois University
$57,465 · 5 yrs out
Brigham Young University - Idaho
$57,438 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$57,419 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine
$57,334 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$57,301 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$57,292 · 5 yrs out
Portland State University
$57,152 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Crookston
$57,075 · 5 yrs out
Trine University
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
$56,848 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$56,535 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Colorado
$56,414 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at St. Cloud State University
Education (Doctorate)
$131,944 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$131,424 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$119,554 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$116,180 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,714 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$104,573 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$104,182 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$99,377 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$95,489 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,232 · 5 yrs out
Statistics (Bachelor's)
$93,589 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,526 · 5 yrs out
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