← Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at University of South Alabama

Name: Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's Degree outcomes at University of South Alabama
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Mobile, AL · Public · Federal field 0901

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$9,531 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 55.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −93% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: 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−$161,720

$8,000Annual price−$193,720

$16,000Annual price−$225,720

$18,000Current college-wide context−$233,720

$24,000Annual price−$257,720

$32,000Annual price−$289,720

$40,000Annual price−$321,720

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+53%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$30,153 → $46,121

60Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

45Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

92Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

90Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$28,887Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

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.

102Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

52Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

57Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$30,927Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$46,828$15,901 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 20 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.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$17,648

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$46,828

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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$17,648Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,476Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE71.0%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE52.7%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.

$30,153Year 1

$46,828Year 4

$46,121Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

7.1% 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$3,902

Estimated loan payment$276

90borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$46,828 vs. $56,359

$9,531 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

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+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$66,950 median wageAL estimate · 180 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$63,760 median wageAL estimate · 300 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$63,330 median wageAL estimate · 530 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$61,710 median wageAL estimate · 2,410 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$43,440 median wageAL estimate · 530 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$38,530 median wageAL estimate · 300 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$83,700 median wageAL estimate · 210 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k 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 · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$60,120 median wageAL estimate · 1,120 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNO MATCHNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 99-9999

Possible alternatives