Bachelor's-22% vs national median723 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at University of South Carolina Upstate
Ranked 277th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$33,260
middle 50%: $24,385 – $44,293
Median · 5 years out
$45,823
middle 50%: $35,074 – $60,605
Median · 10 years out
$54,365
middle 50%: $41,582 – $72,917
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 majors earn a median $33,260 in their first year. Median pay is $54,365 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
9.3 yrs
≈ $10,920 total interest
Same major at other universities
Western Colorado University
$46,183 · 5 yrs out
Coker University
$46,093 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
$46,055 · 5 yrs out
Young Harris College
$45,979 · 5 yrs out
University of New Orleans (The)
$45,940 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$45,940 · 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
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Altoona
$45,413 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University at Alexandria
$45,210 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of South Carolina Upstate
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$82,528 · 5 yrs out
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's)
$82,528 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$75,089 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$75,032 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$72,680 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$72,680 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$69,202 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$67,157 · 5 yrs out
Education (Master's)
$65,194 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$59,353 · 5 yrs out
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