Bachelor's+15% vs national median10,554 grads tracked
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at Pennsylvania State University (The)
Ranked 18th of 355 bachelor's programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$42,234
middle 50%: $30,880 – $54,891
Median · 5 years out
$68,164
middle 50%: $49,779 – $91,032
Median · 10 years out
$88,425
middle 50%: $61,640 – $127,112
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Penn State communication graduates earn a median $42k in year 1. By year 10, wages climb to $88k.
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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,477 total interest
Same major at other universities
Miami University
$72,162 · 5 yrs out
University of Richmond
$72,014 · 5 yrs out
Utah Valley University
$69,615 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$69,419 · 5 yrs out
Penn State World Campus
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
James Madison University
$68,505 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$67,323 · 5 yrs out
Saint John's University
$67,226 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$67,174 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$67,123 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts at Boston
$66,946 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$66,932 · 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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