Bachelor's+7% vs national median1,572 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Ranked 46th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$39,818
middle 50%: $29,138 – $52,280
Median · 5 years out
$62,669
middle 50%: $46,499 – $85,176
Median · 10 years out
$80,101
middle 50%: $56,346 – $113,154
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
Penn State Communication and Media Studies bachelor's graduates start at a median of $40k. Median earnings rise to $80k by year 10.
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
6.8 yrs
≈ $8,077 total interest
Same major at other universities
Wheaton College
$63,134 · 5 yrs out
Furman University
$63,113 · 5 yrs out
Hanover College
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$62,776 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$62,759 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Downtown
$62,623 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$62,528 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan State University
$62,349 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$62,246 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$62,075 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$61,994 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 5 yrs out
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