WhatGradsMake
Associate-7% vs national median60 grads tracked

Communication and Media Studies at Palo Alto College

Ranked 31st of 35 associate programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$28,969
middle 50%: $22,038 – $45,751
Median · 5 years out
$37,841
middle 50%: $29,388 – $46,845
Median · 10 years out
$47,243
middle 50%: $38,509 – $64,085

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Communication and Media Studies (associate) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Palo Alto College's associate program in Communication and Media Studies earn a median $28,969 one year after graduating, rising to $47,243 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% below the national median of $40,654 for this field, ranking 31st of 35 reporting programs.

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
11.1 yrs
≈ $13,514 total interest

Same major at other universities

Casper College
$39,496 · 5 yrs out
Amarillo College
$39,342 · 5 yrs out
Genesee Community College
$39,163 · 5 yrs out
Jamestown Community College
$38,509 · 5 yrs out
Owens Community College
$38,377 · 5 yrs out
El Paso Community College
$38,050 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Fulton-Montgomery Community College
$37,592 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Broome Community College
$35,616 · 5 yrs out
Finger Lakes Community College - SUNY Office of Community Colleges
$35,253 · 5 yrs out
Tulsa Community College
$34,351 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Palo Alto College

Engineering (Associate)
$87,351 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$64,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Associate)
$58,998 · 5 yrs out
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate)
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$56,272 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Certificate)
$55,181 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$54,286 · 5 yrs out
Marketing (Associate)
$53,921 · 5 yrs out
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Associate)
$53,793 · 5 yrs out

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