How much do Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree graduates from American University earn?

The reported median is $67,863 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $22,611.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 20% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at American University

Washington, DC · 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.

$11,504 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 33.3% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $12,158 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: −34% · 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+$48,630

$12,000Annual price+$630

$24,000Annual price−$47,370

$36,000Annual price−$95,370

$42,000Current college-wide context−$119,370

$48,000Annual price−$143,370

$60,000Annual price−$191,370

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+103%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,980 → $75,154

118Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

34Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

135Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

35Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not 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.

101Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

36Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

79Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

145Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$67,863$33,055 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 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$41,943

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

02 · BORROWING$22,611

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$67,863

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$240/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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$41,943Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$76,058Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE62.0%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE75.5%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.

$36,980Year 1

$67,863Year 4

$75,154Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.2% 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$5,655

Estimated loan payment$240

35borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$67,863 vs. $56,359

$11,504 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$197,600 median wageDC estimate · 7,410 jobs · 11-2032$142,020–$296,830 middle 50% of DC wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$129,300 median wageDC estimate · 1,050 jobs · 27-3043$100,320–$158,020 middle 50% of DC wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$83,910 median wageDC estimate · 180 jobs · 25-1122$80,640–$100,530 middle 50% of DC wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$105,390 median wageDC estimate · 1,720 jobs · 27-3023$81,550–$160,330 middle 50% of DC wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$102,740 median wageDC estimate · 16,720 jobs · 27-3031$78,200–$149,120 middle 50% of DC wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$83,920 median wageDC estimate · 3,310 jobs · 27-3041$77,400–$130,360 middle 50% of DC wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,340 median wageU.S. estimate · 70 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$141,720 median wageDC estimate · 800 jobs · 11-2033$128,360–$169,130 middle 50% of DC wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$80,840 median wageDC estimate · 2,350 jobs · 13-1131$65,080–$102,690 middle 50% of DC wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$67,450 median wageDC estimate · 100 jobs · 27-3099$48,540–$94,400 middle 50% of DC 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

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