COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Communication and Media Studies master's degree at University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
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 notably above similar programs.
$19,920 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- Not available
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- $189,365 / year
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- Withheld by data safeguards
- Available price data
- College-wide context only
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$58,761Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$91,873$33,112 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: Parent PLUS not reported · 97 Grad 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.
GRADUATE-DEGREE BASELINE
$91,873 vs. $56,359
$35,514 above the national bachelor’s median in the same field.
Comparison basis673 bachelor’s program records
This is a cross-cohort benchmark, not the salary increase caused by earning this graduate credential. Your current earnings remain the correct baseline for personal ROI.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,740
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWINGNot available
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$91,873
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENTNot available
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$32,740Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$90,300Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE9.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE91.8%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?
Repayment pressure is not available
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$7,656
Estimated loan paymentNot available
Not availableborrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$91,873 vs. $71,953
$19,920 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$167,980 median wageCA estimate · 9,400 jobs · 11-2032$125,550–$222,310 middle 50% of CA wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$135,000 median wageCA estimate · 3,140 jobs · 25-1122$102,290–$186,490 middle 50% of CA wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$86,480 median wageCA estimate · 8,390 jobs · 27-3043$75,530–$127,870 middle 50% of CA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$98,030 median wageCA estimate · 14,830 jobs · 27-3041$71,090–$136,820 middle 50% of CA wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$85,030 median wageCA estimate · 32,710 jobs · 27-3031$64,460–$121,180 middle 50% of CA wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,200 median wageU.S. estimate · 4,140 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,340 median wageU.S. estimate · 1,620 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$135,870 median wageCA estimate · 5,430 jobs · 11-2033$106,910–$192,290 middle 50% of CA wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$102,630 median wageCA estimate · 9,940 jobs · 27-3099$63,530–$105,660 middle 50% of CA wages+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$79,710 median wageCA estimate · 12,860 jobs · 13-1131$62,360–$101,930 middle 50% of CA 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
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.
San Diego State University
$17,376 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $84,280
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $15,364
California State University, Fullerton
$26,185 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $66,353
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $6,555
National University
$9,862 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $63,474
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $22,878
California State University, Northridge
$25,719 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $60,784
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $7,021
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
204 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 →