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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, IL · 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 close to similar programs.

$2,741 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
Not available
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−69% · 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$53,618 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.

+22%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$41,423 → $50,554
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
22Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
15Borrowers 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
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$24,185

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

02 · BORROWINGNot available

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$53,618

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENTNot available

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$24,185Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$54,679Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE73.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE70.0%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.

$41,423Year 1
$53,618Year 4
$50,554Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

Repayment pressure is not available

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,468
Estimated loan paymentNot available
15borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$53,618 vs. $56,359

$2,741 below 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$131,990 median wageIL estimate · 2,770 jobs · 11-2032$98,400–$169,640 middle 50% of IL wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,150 median wageIL estimate · 1,580 jobs · 25-1122$53,860–$100,600 middle 50% of IL wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$68,220 median wageIL estimate · 2,640 jobs · 27-3043$43,440–$97,280 middle 50% of IL wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$76,380 median wageIL estimate · 6,200 jobs · 27-3031$59,400–$102,950 middle 50% of IL wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$76,060 median wageIL estimate · 4,560 jobs · 27-3041$62,370–$100,750 middle 50% of IL wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$60,590 median wageIL estimate · 1,060 jobs · 27-3023$42,790–$86,060 middle 50% of IL wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,720 median wageIL estimate · 770 jobs · 27-3011$32,190–$61,370 middle 50% of IL wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$106,290 median wageIL estimate · 2,860 jobs · 11-2033$83,840–$132,430 middle 50% of IL wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$66,440 median wageIL estimate · 4,470 jobs · 13-1131$52,850–$81,750 middle 50% of IL wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$60,730 median wageIL estimate · 19,590 jobs · 27-3099$31,200–$96,920 middle 50% of IL 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 18.4%
02

Educational Services

about 16.7%
03

Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

about 10.7%
04

Wholesale Trade

about 10.4%
05

Health Care and Social Assistance

about 8.2%

How to read this: This is an observed industry mix, not a list of job titles or proof that every graduate worked in the field studied. Counts and shares are approximate because Census privacy protections add statistical noise.

Coverage is limited to institutions and states participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program. These figures do not affect DegreeVerdict ROI calculations.

Download the official Census source file →
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.

Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

$15,416 higher earnings · $10,888 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,034
Debt
$26,543
Annual net price
$13,297
View outcomes →
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

$12,821 higher earnings · $9,830 lower annual net price

Earnings
$66,439
Debt
$19,500
Annual net price
$14,355
View outcomes →
Rock Island, IL

Augustana College

$10,112 higher earnings · $1,449 lower annual net price

Earnings
$63,730
Debt
$26,375
Annual net price
$22,736
View outcomes →
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

$6,796 higher earnings · $4,787 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,414
Debt
$20,125
Annual net price
$19,398
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

22 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 →