Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT · Public
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.
$12,183 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
35.1% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$13,855 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
−16% · 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.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$55,420
$8,000Annual price+$23,420
$16,000Annual price−$8,580
$24,000Annual price−$40,580
$25,000Current college-wide context−$44,580
$32,000Annual price−$72,580
$40,000Annual price−$104,580
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+70%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$40,473 → $68,876314Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort198Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort378Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median358Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$42,156Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent 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.
848Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment181Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers388Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count479Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
4.4%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 35 non-completers358Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,491Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$68,542$32,051 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 134 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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$25,097
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$24,068
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$68,542
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$255/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.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$40,473Year 1
$68,542Year 4
$68,876Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
4.5% 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$5,712
Estimated loan payment$255
358borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$68,542 vs. $56,359
$12,183 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$154,210 median wageCT estimate · 890 jobs · 11-2032$103,430–$214,800 middle 50% of CT wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$98,460 median wageCT estimate · 480 jobs · 27-3043$73,610–$129,260 middle 50% of CT wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$97,210 median wageCT estimate · 280 jobs · 25-1122$75,930–$119,310 middle 50% of CT wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$85,950 median wageCT estimate · 1,050 jobs · 27-3041$61,160–$123,380 middle 50% of CT wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$84,990 median wageCT estimate · 1,910 jobs · 27-3031$62,160–$122,400 middle 50% of CT wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$61,620 median wageCT estimate · 470 jobs · 27-3023$47,150–$104,280 middle 50% of CT wages-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 · 290 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$122,540 median wageCT estimate · 900 jobs · 11-2033$95,460–$171,640 middle 50% of CT wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$77,730 median wageCT estimate · 1,350 jobs · 13-1131$60,720–$100,530 middle 50% of CT wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$53,520 median wageCT estimate · 260 jobs · 27-3099$44,310–$60,430 middle 50% of CT 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
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
01
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 17.2%02
Educational Services
about 13.4%03
Health Care and Social Assistance
about 12.9%04
Information
about 12.9%05
Finance and Insurance
about 9.9%
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.