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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at University of Denver

Denver, CO · 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.

$7,015 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
38.7% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$935 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
−43% · 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.

What stays fixed$63,374 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.

+75%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,234 → $63,583
55Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
47Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
74Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
57Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
28Recent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 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.

103Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
22Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
26Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
63Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
75Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,174Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$63,374$24,200 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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$36,131

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

02 · BORROWING$24,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$63,374

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$260/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$36,131Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$78,476Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE77.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE75.6%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.

$36,234Year 1
$63,374Year 4
$63,583Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.9% 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$5,281
Estimated loan payment$260
57borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$63,374 vs. $56,359

$7,015 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$124,680–$208,020 middle 50% of CO wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$76,830 median wageCO estimate · 1,300 jobs · 27-3043$51,710–$95,420 middle 50% of CO wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$69,200 median wageCO estimate · 560 jobs · 25-1122$54,070–$93,580 middle 50% of CO wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$80,680 median wageCO estimate · 7,410 jobs · 27-3031$64,090–$105,190 middle 50% of CO wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$77,870 median wageCO estimate · 1,830 jobs · 27-3041$58,510–$98,170 middle 50% of CO wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$60,770 median wageCO estimate · 590 jobs · 27-3023$45,170–$78,160 middle 50% of CO wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$50,660 median wageCO estimate · 310 jobs · 27-3011$37,440–$84,150 middle 50% of CO wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$130,010 median wageCO estimate · 600 jobs · 11-2033$105,950–$165,400 middle 50% of CO wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$74,440 median wageCO estimate · 2,470 jobs · 13-1131$60,670–$98,170 middle 50% of CO wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$66,830 median wageCO estimate · 270 jobs · 27-3099$49,500–$81,030 middle 50% of CO wages+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 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

$3,249 higher earnings · $7,000 less debt · $10,785 lower annual net price

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

Colorado Mesa University

$1,464 less debt · $21,028 lower annual net price

Earnings
$54,717
Debt
$23,036
Annual net price
$15,103
View outcomes →
Pueblo, CO

Colorado State University Pueblo

$1,676 less debt · $26,080 lower annual net price

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

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

$5,000 less debt · $20,343 lower annual net price

Earnings
$50,692
Debt
$19,500
Annual net price
$15,788
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

74 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 →