COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are close to similar programs.
$5,189 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 40.6% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- Not reached
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −39% · Negative payoff
- Available price data
- College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$14,520
$8,000Annual price−$46,520
$16,000Annual price−$78,520
$22,000Current college-wide context−$102,520
$24,000Annual price−$110,520
$32,000Annual price−$142,520
$40,000Annual price−$174,520
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$61,548$26,740 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 128 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,420
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$25,000
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$61,548
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$265/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Enter my price →AVERAGE NET PRICE$22,420Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$33,382Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE76.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE73.4%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?
Reported earnings after completion.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
5.2% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$5,129
Estimated loan payment$265
111borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$61,548 vs. $56,359
$5,189 above the national median for the same field and credential.
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.Public Relations Managers$98,210 median wageAL estimate · 540 jobs · 11-2032$80,070–$127,510 middle 50% of AL wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$66,950 median wageAL estimate · 180 jobs · 27-3043$51,840–$93,550 middle 50% of AL wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$63,760 median wageAL estimate · 300 jobs · 25-1122$51,990–$78,400 middle 50% of AL wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$63,330 median wageAL estimate · 530 jobs · 27-3041$43,510–$87,990 middle 50% of AL wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$61,710 median wageAL estimate · 2,410 jobs · 27-3031$48,130–$82,360 middle 50% of AL wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$43,440 median wageAL estimate · 530 jobs · 27-3023$36,810–$48,950 middle 50% of AL wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$38,530 median wageAL estimate · 300 jobs · 27-3011$26,210–$56,870 middle 50% of AL wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$83,700 median wageAL estimate · 210 jobs · 11-2033$73,740–$107,310 middle 50% of AL wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$73,620 median wageU.S. estimate · 19,590 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$60,120 median wageAL estimate · 1,120 jobs · 13-1131$46,480–$69,780 middle 50% of AL wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNO MATCHNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 99-9999
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Information
Educational Services
Finance and Insurance
Wholesale Trade
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Troy University
$1,750 less debt · $5,893 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $47,978
- Debt
- $23,250
- Annual net price
- $16,527
Jacksonville State University
$250 less debt · $8,141 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $43,769
- Debt
- $24,750
- Annual net price
- $14,279
University of North Alabama
$4,000 less debt · $10,250 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $40,334
- Debt
- $21,000
- Annual net price
- $12,170
Auburn University
$4,325 less debt
- Earnings
- $56,636
- Debt
- $20,675
- Annual net price
- $24,323
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
82 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
Your price and current earnings determine the result.
Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.
Calculate my payoff →