Bachelor's-22% vs national median147 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Altoona
Ranked 282nd of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$32,082
middle 50%: $24,522 – $41,103
Median · 5 years out
$45,413
middle 50%: $34,138 – $60,738
Median · 10 years out
$60,442
middle 50%: $42,006 – $80,205
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
Communication and Media Studies graduates earn $32k in their first year. Median pay reaches $60k after ten years.
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
9.1 yrs
≈ $11,024 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of New Orleans (The)
$45,940 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$45,940 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina Upstate
$45,823 · 5 yrs out
Augusta University
$45,680 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Central University
$45,612 · 5 yrs out
Cameron University
$45,543 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University in Shreveport
$45,451 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University at Alexandria
$45,210 · 5 yrs out
Black Hills State University
$45,177 · 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
Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Altoona
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$88,861 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$88,299 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$85,792 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$85,697 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$74,696 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$74,586 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$74,476 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,278 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,441 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,392 · 5 yrs out
Biological and Biomedical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
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