Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, 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 close to the same-degree benchmark.

$161 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
44.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−54% · 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$56,520 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.

+53%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$34,892$53,322
73Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
73Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
94Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
83Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$30,459Awarding-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.

111Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
39Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
53Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
45Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,174Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$56,520$17,346 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 22 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$17,760

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

02 · BORROWING$24,939

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$56,520

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$264/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$17,760Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$29,254Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE85.9%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE51.2%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.

$34,892Year 1
$56,520Year 4
$53,322Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.6% 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$4,710
Estimated loan payment$264
83borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$56,520 vs. $56,359

$161 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

$10,103 higher earnings · $7,439 less debt

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

University of Denver

$6,854 higher earnings · $439 less debt

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

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

$6,362 higher earnings · $5,860 lower annual net price

Earnings
$62,882
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$11,900
View outcomes →
Denver, CO

Colorado State University Global

$6,223 higher earnings · $1,250 lower annual net price

Earnings
$62,743
Debt
$32,010
Annual net price
$16,510
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

94 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 →