Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 24 reporting college programs.
−$130,731 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
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.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,841
- Federal debt
- $25,473
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $39,729
- Federal debt
- $18,375
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,122
- Federal debt
- $24,500
- Reporting programs
- 24
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,912
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$74,5972Seton Hall University$70,6113California Lutheran University$68,8064High Point University$67,0855University of St Thomas$66,8766Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks$66,8667Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$66,8668Pennsylvania State University-World Campus$66,8669Farmingdale State College$62,60810West Virginia University$61,411Observed 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.
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 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $74,597 | $20,474 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Seton Hall UniversityBachelor's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $70,611 | Not available | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | California Lutheran UniversityBachelor's Degree | Thousand Oaks, CA | $68,806 | $24,000 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | High Point UniversityBachelor's Degree | High Point, NC | $67,085 | $23,250 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of St ThomasBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $66,876 | Not available | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $66,866 | $26,500 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $66,866 | $26,500 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $66,866 | $26,500 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Farmingdale State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Farmingdale, NY | $62,608 | $16,870 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | West Virginia UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $61,411 | $25,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Howard UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $59,909 | $27,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $58,335 | Not available | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of Nebraska at OmahaBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | $58,250 | $22,576 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Dominican University of CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | San Rafael, CA | $58,005 | Not available | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $57,771 | $25,479 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $54,860 | $22,250 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Berry CollegeBachelor's Degree | Mount Berry, GA | $50,593 | $22,965 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $49,500 | $23,405 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Malone UniversityBachelor's Degree | Canton, OH | $49,148 | $27,000 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Augustana CollegeBachelor's Degree | Rock Island, IL | $49,015 | $27,000 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Tennessee Technological UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cookeville, TN | $45,909 | $19,362 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | SUNY Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Utica, NY | $40,991 | $22,689 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Benedictine CollegeBachelor's Degree | Atchison, KS | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $27,891 |
| 24 | Middle Georgia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macon, GA | Not available | $25,964 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $12,361 |
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.