Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$73,912 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.
$73,912Median year-4 earnings
$27,982Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
How much do Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other master's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $73,912 four years after completion across reportable master's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $66,125 to $83,948 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 3 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$73,912Median reported earnings · year 4
$90,190Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
45thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
7With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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
- $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.
Median
25th percentile$66,125National median$73,91275th percentile$83,948
7 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$94,135Observed year-4 earnings$61,788
Northwestern University$29,167 price · $126,571 earningsNew York University$37,050 price · $94,135 earningsBowie State University$19,298 price · $83,948 earningsGonzaga University$35,119 price · $73,912 earningsFordham University$44,338 price · $66,412 earningsWest Virginia University$15,634 price · $66,125 earningsGeorgia Southern University$15,267 price · $61,788 earnings
$15,267Annual college-wide average net price$37,050
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
7 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northwestern University$126,5712New York University$94,1353Bowie State University$83,9484Gonzaga University$73,9125Fordham University$66,4126West Virginia University$66,1257Georgia Southern University$61,788Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,580 median wage29,420 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1122+2.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$47,590–$143,720 10th–90th percentileEditors$77,920 median wage91,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3041-1.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$41,250–$153,700 10th–90th percentileWriters and Authors$76,910 median wage47,940 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3043-0.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 11.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$44,310–$139,870 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
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 | Northwestern UniversityMaster's Degree | Evanston, IL | $126,571 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $29,167 |
| 2 | New York UniversityMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $94,135 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $37,050 |
| 3 | Bowie State UniversityMaster's Degree | Bowie, MD | $83,948 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $19,298 |
| 4 | Gonzaga UniversityMaster's Degree | Spokane, WA | $73,912 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $35,119 |
| 5 | Fordham UniversityMaster's Degree | Bronx, NY | $66,412 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $44,338 |
| 6 | West Virginia UniversityMaster's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $66,125 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,634 |
| 7 | Georgia Southern UniversityMaster's Degree | Statesboro, GA | $61,788 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,267 |
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.