WhatGradsMake
Associate-6% vs national median89 grads tracked

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at Palo Alto College

Ranked 48th of 68 associate programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$27,814
middle 50%: $22,103 – $38,355
Median · 5 years out
$38,771
middle 50%: $28,422 – $49,171
Median · 10 years out
$45,543
middle 50%: $37,454 – $60,219

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (associate) graduates.

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

Graduates of Palo Alto College's associate program in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs earn a median $27,814 one year after graduating, rising to $45,543 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $41,174 for this field, ranking 48th of 68 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
11.3 yrs
≈ $13,664 total interest

Same major at other universities

Erie Community College
$39,719 · 5 yrs out
Herkimer County Community College - SUNY Office of Community Colleges
$39,601 · 5 yrs out
Southern Maine Community College
$39,290 · 5 yrs out
Del Mar College
$39,222 · 5 yrs out
Genesee Community College
$39,163 · 5 yrs out
Tompkins Cortland Community College
$38,967 · 5 yrs out
Jamestown Community College
$38,509 · 5 yrs out
Onondaga Community College
$38,495 · 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
$37,915 · 5 yrs out
Casper College
$37,915 · 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

Related fields of study

Communication and Media Studies
Compare universities
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
Compare universities
Journalism
Compare universities
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Compare universities
Publishing
Compare universities
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Compare universities