Bachelor's+34% vs national median4,165 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at University of Texas at Austin
Ranked 3rd of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$52,951
middle 50%: $39,116 – $68,401
Median · 5 years out
$78,128
middle 50%: $58,046 – $110,365
Median · 10 years out
$107,011
middle 50%: $70,885 – $160,722
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
UT Austin Communication and Media Studies graduates start with a median salary of $53k. Earnings reach $107k by the ten-year mark.
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
5.4 yrs
≈ $6,156 total interest
Same major at other universities
CUNY Graduate School & University Center
$80,595 · 5 yrs out
Fairfield University
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$77,750 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$74,785 · 5 yrs out
Bryant University
$73,245 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$71,101 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$70,075 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$70,072 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Texas at Austin
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$215,480 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$206,592 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$182,751 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$179,117 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$179,117 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$173,536 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$167,891 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$164,408 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$160,721 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$159,387 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$156,021 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$147,611 · 5 yrs out
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