Bachelor's-5% vs national median420 grads tracked
Communication and Media Studies at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Ranked 134th of 307 bachelor's programs in Communication and Media Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$38,635
middle 50%: $28,969 – $49,035
Median · 5 years out
$55,780
middle 50%: $41,761 – $69,810
Median · 10 years out
$66,395
middle 50%: $51,147 – $85,281
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 graduates from this Wisconsin institution earn a median starting salary of $39k. By year 10, earnings typically reach $66k.
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
7.6 yrs
≈ $8,826 total interest
Same major at other universities
Sam Houston State University
$56,120 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$56,069 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$56,029 · 5 yrs out
Longwood University
$55,973 · 5 yrs out
Western Illinois University
$55,924 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$55,832 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Old Westbury
$55,654 · 5 yrs out
Randolph College
$55,621 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$55,495 · 5 yrs out
Southern Utah University
$55,297 · 5 yrs out
Lewis University
$55,228 · 5 yrs out
College of Saint Scholastica
$55,111 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$114,092 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$87,097 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$82,142 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,142 · 5 yrs out
Food Science and Technology (Bachelor's)
$76,305 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural Mechanization (Bachelor's)
$73,677 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$73,271 · 5 yrs out
Education (Master's)
$72,484 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Master's)
$72,286 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$71,536 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$69,900 · 5 yrs out
Chemistry (Bachelor's)
$69,368 · 5 yrs out
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