COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · 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.
$12,675 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 38.4% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- $15,085 / year
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- +3% · Positive 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+$60,340
$8,000Annual price+$28,340
$13,000Current college-wide context+$8,340
$16,000Annual price−$3,660
$24,000Annual price−$35,660
$32,000Annual price−$67,660
$40,000Annual price−$99,660
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$69,034$34,226 above the preliminary benchmark
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$13,297
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$26,543
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$69,034
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$281/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$13,297Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$28,329Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE86.9%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE62.4%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.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
4.9% 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$5,753
Estimated loan payment$281
41borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$69,034 vs. $56,359
$12,675 above the national median for the same field and credential.
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.
Information
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Educational Services
Retail Trade
Finance and Insurance
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.
Northwestern University
$24,507 higher earnings · $8,431 less debt
- Earnings
- $93,541
- Debt
- $18,112
- Annual net price
- $29,167
Eastern Illinois University
$543 less debt · $511 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $57,887
- Debt
- $26,000
- Annual net price
- $12,786
University of Illinois Chicago
$5,793 less debt · $2,323 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $56,845
- Debt
- $20,750
- Annual net price
- $10,974
University of Illinois Springfield
$2,221 less debt · $3,464 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $52,588
- Debt
- $24,322
- Annual net price
- $9,833
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
Not reported observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
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 →