Bachelor's-13% vs national median1,163 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at Cleveland State University
Ranked 199th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,936
middle 50%: $27,127 – $49,755
Median · 5 years out
$50,757
middle 50%: $37,726 – $66,233
Median · 10 years out
$61,561
middle 50%: $43,294 – $84,928
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
First-year median earnings for Communication and Media Studies majors sit at $37k. Ten-year median salaries are reported at $62k.
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
8.3 yrs
≈ $9,603 total interest
Same major at other universities
Western Oregon University
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$51,071 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Missouri State University
$51,062 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Wesleyan University
$50,985 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$50,871 · 5 yrs out
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
$50,767 · 5 yrs out
SUNY at Fredonia
$50,600 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
$50,591 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University Moorhead
$50,577 · 5 yrs out
Benedictine University
$50,471 · 5 yrs out
Indiana State University
$50,441 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$50,417 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Cleveland State University
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$108,696 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$108,180 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$106,123 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$99,736 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,768 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$91,213 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$91,213 · 5 yrs out
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