Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · 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 are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$6,523 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
42.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−21% · 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.

What stays fixed$62,882 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+44%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$39,662$57,243
77Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
76Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
101Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
120Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$27,230Awarding-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.

140Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
30Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
72Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
61Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,174Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$62,882$23,708 above the preliminary benchmark

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$11,900

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

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$62,882

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$11,900Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,902Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE74.7%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE46.2%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.

$39,662Year 1
$62,882Year 4
$57,243Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.5% 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$5,240
Estimated loan payment$286
120borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$62,882 vs. $56,359

$6,523 above 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$162,870 median wageCO estimate · 74,850 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$76,830 median wageCO estimate · 1,300 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$69,200 median wageCO estimate · 560 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$80,680 median wageCO estimate · 7,410 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$77,870 median wageCO estimate · 1,830 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$60,770 median wageCO estimate · 590 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$50,660 median wageCO estimate · 310 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$130,010 median wageCO estimate · 600 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$74,440 median wageCO estimate · 2,470 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$66,830 median wageCO estimate · 270 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentNO MATCHNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 99-9999
Possible alternatives

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.

Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

$3,741 higher earnings · $9,500 less debt

Earnings
$66,623
Debt
$17,500
Annual net price
$25,346
View outcomes →
Denver, CO

University of Denver

$492 higher earnings · $2,500 less debt

Earnings
$63,374
Debt
$24,500
Annual net price
$36,131
View outcomes →
Pueblo, CO

Colorado State University Pueblo

$4,176 less debt · $1,849 lower annual net price

Earnings
$51,721
Debt
$22,824
Annual net price
$10,051
View outcomes →
Fort Collins, CO

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

$2,353 less debt

Earnings
$61,434
Debt
$24,647
Annual net price
$21,279
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

101 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

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 →