WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-24% vs national median133 grads tracked

Communication and Media Studies at Montana State University - Billings

Ranked 291st of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$31,996
middle 50%: $25,555 – $40,266
Median · 5 years out
$44,319
middle 50%: $31,416 – $62,605
Median · 10 years out
$61,036
middle 50%: $42,677 – $77,901

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 Montana State University - Billings's bachelor's program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $31,996 one year after graduating, rising to $61,036 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 24% below the national median of $58,421 for this field, ranking 291st 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
9.2 yrs
≈ $11,187 total interest

Same major at other universities

Eastern Mennonite University
$45,075 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University Northwest
$44,939 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Oregon University
$44,849 · 5 yrs out
Southern Wesleyan University
$44,849 · 5 yrs out
Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical Colg at Baton Rouge
$44,767 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
$44,416 · 5 yrs out
Grambling State University
$43,996 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina Asheville
$43,789 · 5 yrs out
Winston-Salem State University
$43,764 · 5 yrs out
East Central University
$43,758 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Tech University
$42,746 · 5 yrs out
Elizabeth City State University
$42,570 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Montana State University - Billings

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$116,034 · 5 yrs out
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology (Master's)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$73,442 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$73,402 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$72,436 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$72,156 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$70,722 · 5 yrs out
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's)
$68,626 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$66,251 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$65,854 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Bachelor's)
$65,307 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out

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