Home›Majors›North Carolina

SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree programs in North Carolina

Compare 24 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

24Programs reporting earnings

$43,322Median year-4 earnings

$25,000Median federal debt

21Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in North Carolina

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem · $22,250 federal debt$77,984 2Elon UniversityElon · $23,250 federal debt$73,750 3University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill · $15,500 federal debt$70,240 4Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte · $27,000 federal debt$65,985 5North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh · $22,324 federal debt$62,039 6University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte · $24,050 federal debt$60,407 7East Carolina UniversityGreenville · $23,250 federal debt$59,432 8Appalachian State UniversityBoone · $21,500 federal debt$55,307 9University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington · $21,500 federal debt$54,315 10Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteCharlotte · $25,125 federal debt$51,247

CAREER CONTEXT IN NC

What related occupations pay in North Carolina

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

11-2032Public Relations Managers

State median wage: $132,280
Middle 50% wage range: $103,700–$173,020
State employment: 1,510
Projected growth: +5.7%
Annual openings: 6,100

10th–90th percentile: $79,320–$229,270

25-1122Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

State median wage: $65,850
Middle 50% wage range: $55,780–$81,420
State employment: 950
Projected growth: +2.1%
Annual openings: 2,400

10th–90th percentile: $43,360–$106,930

27-3043Writers and Authors

State median wage: $63,660
Middle 50% wage range: $47,940–$83,360
State employment: 1,810
Projected growth: -0.3%
Annual openings: 11,900

10th–90th percentile: $42,180–$117,820

27-3041Editors

State median wage: $73,740
Middle 50% wage range: $55,950–$84,050
State employment: 1,870
Projected growth: -1.1%
Annual openings: 7,900

10th–90th percentile: $44,050–$103,990

27-3031Public Relations Specialists

State median wage: $67,230
Middle 50% wage range: $51,530–$89,990
State employment: 9,910
Projected growth: +1.8%
Annual openings: 23,000

10th–90th percentile: $39,840–$136,450

27-3023News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists

State median wage: $58,670
Middle 50% wage range: $39,800–$76,040
State employment: 930
Projected growth: -5.9%
Annual openings: 3,400

10th–90th percentile: $32,280–$101,970

27-3011Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

State median wage: $47,910
Middle 50% wage range: $35,240–$68,610
State employment: 830
Projected growth: -7.6%
Annual openings: 2,000

10th–90th percentile: $22,540–$176,730

11-2033Fundraising Managers

State median wage: $125,870
Middle 50% wage range: $94,730–$166,610
State employment: 1,030
Projected growth: +5.4%
Annual openings: 3,700

10th–90th percentile: $78,680–$212,020

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in North Carolina; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#	College	City	Median year-4 earnings	Median federal debt
1	Wake Forest University	Winston-Salem	$77,984	$22,250
2	Elon University	Elon	$73,750	$23,250
3	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill	$70,240	$15,500
4	Queens University of Charlotte	Charlotte	$65,985	$27,000
5	North Carolina State University at Raleigh	Raleigh	$62,039	$22,324
6	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Charlotte	$60,407	$24,050
7	East Carolina University	Greenville	$59,432	$23,250
8	Appalachian State University	Boone	$55,307	$21,500
9	University of North Carolina Wilmington	Wilmington	$54,315	$21,500
10	Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte	Charlotte	$51,247	$25,125
11	North Carolina A&T State University	Greensboro	$48,804	$27,643
12	Catawba College	Salisbury	$48,181	$26,000
13	Western Carolina University	Cullowhee	$43,322	$18,500
14	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Greensboro	$43,231	$25,000
15	North Carolina Central University	Durham	$43,230	$29,662
16	University of North Carolina Asheville	Asheville	$42,743	$23,125
17	University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke	$41,864	$29,663
18	Montreat College	Montreat	$41,209	Not available
19	Wingate University	Wingate	$41,013	Not available
20	Johnson C Smith University	Charlotte	$40,600	$31,000
21	Fayetteville State University	Fayetteville	$38,325	$29,417
22	Gardner-Webb University	Boiling Springs	$35,982	Not available
23	Winston-Salem State University	Winston-Salem	$34,786	$27,096
24	Shaw University	Raleigh	$28,545	$42,500

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Communication and Media Studies in North Carolina

What do Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree graduates earn in North Carolina?

Across 24 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $43,322 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $25,000 among the 21 programs reporting federal debt.

Which North Carolina colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Wake Forest University has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.