WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+3% vs national median3,295 grads tracked

Communication and Media Studies at North Carolina State University

Ranked 76th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,713
middle 50%: $28,563 – $50,818
Median · 5 years out
$60,211
middle 50%: $46,213 – $79,493
Median · 10 years out
$76,770
middle 50%: $55,033 – $108,524

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 North Carolina State University's bachelor's program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $39,713 one year after graduating, rising to $76,770 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% above the national median of $58,421 for this field, ranking 76th 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
7.1 yrs
≈ $8,280 total interest

Same major at other universities

SUNY College at Geneseo
$60,582 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$60,577 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$60,434 · 5 yrs out
Augsburg University
$60,304 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$60,304 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
$60,234 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Clear Lake
$60,210 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$60,097 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
College of Staten Island/CUNY
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Hamline University
$59,560 · 5 yrs out
Worcester State University
$59,464 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at North Carolina State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$164,191 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$159,758 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$133,569 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$130,109 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$116,091 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$113,912 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Doctorate)
$109,592 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$106,364 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$106,347 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$105,676 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$105,676 · 5 yrs out

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