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Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Illinois Chicago

Name: Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's Degree outcomes at University of Illinois Chicago
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Chicago, IL · 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.

$486 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 36.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −47% · 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price−$61,550

$8,000Annual price−$93,550

$11,000Current college-wide context−$105,550

$16,000Annual price−$125,550

$24,000Annual price−$157,550

$32,000Annual price−$189,550

$40,000Annual price−$221,550

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+64%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$38,912 → $63,943

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

74Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

83Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

118Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$39,606Awarding-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.

262Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

63Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

165Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

87Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

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

Observed year-4 earnings$56,845$22,037 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 23 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$10,974

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

02 · BORROWING$20,750

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$56,845

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$220/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$10,974Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,521Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE77.3%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE61.6%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.

$38,912Year 1

$56,845Year 4

$63,943Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.6% 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$4,737

Estimated loan payment$220

118borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$56,845 vs. $56,359

$486 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$131,990 median wageIL estimate · 2,770 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,150 median wageIL estimate · 1,580 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$68,220 median wageIL estimate · 2,640 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$76,380 median wageIL estimate · 6,200 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$76,060 median wageIL estimate · 4,560 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$60,590 median wageIL estimate · 1,060 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,720 median wageIL estimate · 770 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$106,290 median wageIL estimate · 2,860 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$66,440 median wageIL estimate · 4,470 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$60,730 median wageIL estimate · 19,590 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

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