Communication and Media Studies: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 64 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$115,373 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−108%Modeled 10-year ROI
$44,143Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$44,143Median reported earnings · year 4
$42,399Average reported earnings · year 5
$11,944Median federal debt
38thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
64Reporting programs
64With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,296
- Federal debt
- $23,062
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $44,143
- Federal debt
- $11,944
- Reporting programs
- 64
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,091
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 699
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,613
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,404
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 61
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $76,868
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $98,037
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,332
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$37,778National median$44,14375th percentile$47,470
64 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1West Valley College$65,2802College of San Mateo$65,1203Evergreen Valley College$63,8354Skyline College$61,4265San Diego City College$60,7166Salt Lake Community College$56,4087San Diego Mesa College$56,3218University of Cincinnati-Main Campus$55,9959University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College$55,99510Orange Coast College$53,829Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Communications Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1122 · 3 crosswalk linksPublic Relations ManagersSOC 11-2032 · 3 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 3 crosswalk linksBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysSOC 27-3011 · 2 crosswalk linksEditorsSOC 27-3041 · 2 crosswalk linksNews Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsSOC 27-3023 · 2 crosswalk linksPublic Relations SpecialistsSOC 27-3031 · 2 crosswalk linksFundraisersSOC 13-1131 · 1 crosswalk linksFundraising ManagersSOC 11-2033 · 1 crosswalk linksMedia and Communication Workers, All OtherSOC 27-3099 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Saratoga, CA | $65,280 | Not available | +109% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | College of San MateoAssociate's Degree | San Mateo, CA | $65,120 | Not available | +121% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Evergreen Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Jose, CA | $63,835 | Not available | +64% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Skyline CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Bruno, CA | $61,426 | Not available | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | San Diego City CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $60,716 | Not available | +48% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Salt Lake Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $56,408 | $12,220 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | San Diego Mesa CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Diego, CA | $56,321 | Not available | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusAssociate's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $55,995 | $17,922 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Ash, OH | $55,995 | $17,922 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Orange Coast CollegeAssociate's Degree | Costa Mesa, CA | $53,829 | Not available | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | De Anza CollegeAssociate's Degree | Cupertino, CA | $53,738 | Not available | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | College of the CanyonsAssociate's Degree | Santa Clarita, CA | $49,940 | Not available | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Suffolk County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Selden, NY | $49,227 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Gavilan CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gilroy, CA | $49,070 | Not available | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | College of Southern NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $48,300 | Not available | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Santa Ana CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Ana, CA | $47,880 | Not available | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Delaware County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Media, PA | $47,470 | $7,125 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | College of the DesertAssociate's Degree | Palm Desert, CA | $47,357 | Not available | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | College of Western IdahoAssociate's Degree | Nampa, ID | $47,282 | $12,500 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Nassau Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Garden City, NY | $47,054 | $11,000 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Sacramento City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $45,735 | Not available | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Pasadena City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pasadena, CA | $45,235 | Not available | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Sinclair Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Dayton, OH | $44,816 | $11,944 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Mt San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | Walnut, CA | $44,550 | Not available | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Onondaga Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $44,520 | $11,833 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Riverside City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Riverside, CA | $44,269 | Not available | -107% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $44,143 | Not available | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Island City, NY | $43,801 | $8,511 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New York, NY | $43,763 | $8,643 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | County College of MorrisAssociate's Degree | Randolph, NJ | $43,668 | $9,000 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | American Public University SystemAssociate's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $42,077 | $24,555 | -127% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Modesto Junior CollegeAssociate's Degree | Modesto, CA | $40,635 | Not available | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Butte CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oroville, CA | $39,968 | Not available | -150% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Diablo Valley CollegeAssociate's Degree | Pleasant Hill, CA | $39,912 | Not available | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Community College of PhiladelphiaAssociate's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $39,860 | $14,000 | -145% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Montgomery County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Blue Bell, PA | $39,366 | $12,000 | -150% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Central New Mexico Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $38,064 | Not available | -170% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | South Texas CollegeAssociate's Degree | McAllen, TX | $37,778 | Not available | -177% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Full Sail UniversityAssociate's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $37,309 | $33,960 | -146% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Southwestern CollegeAssociate's Degree | Chula Vista, CA | $37,303 | Not available | -167% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | UCNJ Union College of Union County New JerseyAssociate's Degree | Cranford, NJ | $37,008 | $7,350 | -175% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Northampton County Area Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $36,736 | $17,500 | -172% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Long Beach City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $36,632 | Not available | -182% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Monroe Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Rochester, NY | $36,389 | $9,750 | -184% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Antelope Valley Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Lancaster, CA | $36,358 | Not available | -188% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | College of the SequoiasAssociate's Degree | Visalia, CA | $34,551 | Not available | -215% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Jamestown Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jamestown, NY | $34,452 | $12,000 | -196% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Bristol Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Fall River, MA | $32,041 | Not available | -228% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Erie Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $31,535 | $11,000 | -228% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Saint Louis Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Bridgeton, MO | $30,346 | Not available | -237% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Dutchess Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $30,308 | $10,998 | -233% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Santa Monica CollegeAssociate's Degree | Santa Monica, CA | $29,371 | Not available | -264% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Glendale Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Glendale, CA | $28,646 | Not available | -253% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Asnuntuck Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 55 | Connecticut State Community College HousatonicAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 56 | Manchester Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 57 | Naugatuck Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 58 | Middlesex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 59 | Three Rivers Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 60 | Connecticut State Community College NorwalkAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 61 | Northwestern Connecticut Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 62 | Quinebaug Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 63 | Connecticut State Community College GatewayAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 64 | Connecticut State Community College TunxisAssociate's Degree | , | $44,143 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.