Communication and Media Studies: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 61 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$68,404 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$68,404Median year-4 earnings
$21,847Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$68,404Median reported earnings · year 4
$74,590Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
33thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
61Reporting programs
61With 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$61,655National median$68,40475th percentile$83,871
61 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Columbia University in the City of New York$120,0032Northwestern University$116,1013Johns Hopkins University$107,4094Northeastern University$97,1155Northeastern University Professional Programs$97,1156American University$94,4247University of Southern California$91,8738University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$88,1749Wayne State University$87,91810University of Florida$86,823Observed 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. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $120,003 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,590 |
| 2 | Northwestern UniversityMaster's Degree | Evanston, IL | $116,101 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,167 |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $107,409 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 4 | Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $97,115 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,915 |
| 5 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $97,115 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 6 | American UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $94,424 | Not available | Baseline needed | $41,943 |
| 7 | University of Southern CaliforniaMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $91,873 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,740 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMaster's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $88,174 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,655 |
| 9 | Wayne State UniversityMaster's Degree | Detroit, MI | $87,918 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,766 |
| 10 | University of FloridaMaster's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $86,823 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,541 |
| 11 | Washington State UniversityMaster's Degree | Pullman, WA | $86,450 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,971 |
| 12 | University of DenverMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $86,020 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,131 |
| 13 | Purdue University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $84,920 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,600 |
| 14 | Weber State UniversityMaster's Degree | Ogden, UT | $84,841 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,258 |
| 15 | San Diego State UniversityMaster's Degree | San Diego, CA | $84,280 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,364 |
| 16 | Westminster UniversityMaster's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $83,871 | Not available | Baseline needed | $27,094 |
| 17 | Regis CollegeMaster's Degree | Weston, MA | $81,615 | Not available | Baseline needed | $27,477 |
| 18 | Lasell UniversityMaster's Degree | Newton, MA | $80,449 | Not available | Baseline needed | $27,511 |
| 19 | Marquette UniversityMaster's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $76,959 | Not available | Baseline needed | $31,487 |
| 20 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeMaster's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $76,869 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,151 |
| 21 | Regent UniversityMaster's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $76,612 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,923 |
| 22 | Queens University of CharlotteMaster's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $76,244 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,857 |
| 23 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityMaster's Degree | Richmond, VA | $76,100 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,433 |
| 24 | Liberty UniversityMaster's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $75,900 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,357 |
| 25 | Grand Valley State UniversityMaster's Degree | Allendale, MI | $74,663 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,317 |
| 26 | Seton Hall UniversityMaster's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $74,479 | Not available | Baseline needed | $31,446 |
| 27 | Lynn UniversityMaster's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $74,356 | Not available | Baseline needed | $44,089 |
| 28 | The New SchoolMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $73,507 | Not available | Baseline needed | $58,741 |
| 29 | Florida International UniversityMaster's Degree | Miami, FL | $71,218 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,288 |
| 30 | Texas State UniversityMaster's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $70,534 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,805 |
| 31 | DePaul UniversityMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $68,404 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,902 |
| 32 | Austin Peay State UniversityMaster's Degree | Clarksville, TN | $68,264 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,735 |
| 33 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $68,073 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,967 |
| 34 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionMaster's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $68,073 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 35 | East Carolina UniversityMaster's Degree | Greenville, NC | $67,749 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,739 |
| 36 | Sacred Heart UniversityMaster's Degree | Fairfield, CT | $66,974 | Not available | Baseline needed | $46,174 |
| 37 | California State University, FullertonMaster's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $66,353 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,555 |
| 38 | Lindenwood UniversityMaster's Degree | Saint Charles, MO | $65,942 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,638 |
| 39 | Webster UniversityMaster's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $65,188 | Not available | Baseline needed | $27,047 |
| 40 | National UniversityMaster's Degree | San Diego, CA | $63,474 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,878 |
| 41 | La Salle UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $63,334 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,409 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityMaster's Degree | California, PA | $63,323 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,256 |
| 43 | Texas Southern UniversityMaster's Degree | Houston, TX | $62,147 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,590 |
| 44 | Illinois State UniversityMaster's Degree | Normal, IL | $62,006 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,398 |
| 45 | East Tennessee State UniversityMaster's Degree | Johnson City, TN | $61,720 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,983 |
| 46 | Georgia State UniversityMaster's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $61,655 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,931 |
| 47 | Texas Tech UniversityMaster's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $60,860 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,070 |
| 48 | California State University, NorthridgeMaster's Degree | Northridge, CA | $60,784 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,021 |
| 49 | Minnesota State University-MankatoMaster's Degree | Mankato, MN | $60,662 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,139 |
| 50 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Portales, NM | $60,246 | Not available | Baseline needed | $4,904 |
| 51 | California State University, Los AngelesMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $60,235 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,967 |
| 52 | University of Central MissouriMaster's Degree | Warrensburg, MO | $59,861 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,462 |
| 53 | Boston UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $59,519 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,402 |
| 54 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsMaster's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $58,397 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,788 |
| 55 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldMaster's Degree | Springfield, MO | $55,039 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,613 |
| 56 | University of Alabama at BirminghamMaster's Degree | Birmingham, AL | $54,662 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,749 |
| 57 | Troy UniversityMaster's Degree | Troy, AL | $54,590 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,527 |
| 58 | Walden UniversityMaster's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $54,533 | Not available | Baseline needed | $33,817 |
| 59 | University of GeorgiaMaster's Degree | Athens, GA | $53,410 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,936 |
| 60 | Tarleton State UniversityMaster's Degree | Stephenville, TX | $50,666 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,783 |
| 61 | Emerson CollegeMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $46,040 | Not available | Baseline needed | $49,180 |
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.