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

The reported median is $69,228 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $27,000.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 23% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

← Program directory

COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at DePauw University

Greencastle, IN · 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.

$12,869 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 39.0% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $15,570 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: −10% · 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+$62,280

$8,000Annual price+$30,280

$16,000Annual price−$1,720

$22,000Current college-wide context−$25,720

$24,000Annual price−$33,720

$32,000Annual price−$65,720

$40,000Annual price−$97,720

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+50%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$43,141 → $64,923

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

20Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

56Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

73Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$39,932Awarding-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.

70Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

39Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

24Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

60Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

52Graduates 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$69,228$34,420 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 20 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$22,264

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

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$69,228

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/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$22,264Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$74,320Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE57.2%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE74.7%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.

$43,141Year 1

$69,228Year 4

$64,923Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.0% 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$5,769

Estimated loan payment$286

73borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$69,228 vs. $56,359

$12,869 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$114,960 median wageIN estimate · 600 jobs · 11-2032$93,610–$154,830 middle 50% of IN wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$75,820 median wageIN estimate · 450 jobs · 27-3043$59,080–$90,590 middle 50% of IN wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$65,390 median wageIN estimate · 670 jobs · 25-1122$53,420–$84,680 middle 50% of IN wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$64,900 median wageIN estimate · 3,750 jobs · 27-3031$51,700–$83,480 middle 50% of IN wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$61,760 median wageIN estimate · 1,040 jobs · 27-3011$42,600–$82,970 middle 50% of IN wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$56,440 median wageIN estimate · 830 jobs · 27-3041$39,930–$77,900 middle 50% of IN wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$47,610 median wageIN estimate · 530 jobs · 27-3023$35,000–$61,770 middle 50% of IN wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$112,890 median wageIN estimate · 440 jobs · 11-2033$90,880–$168,160 middle 50% of IN wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$66,250 median wageIN estimate · 2,080 jobs · 13-1131$55,010–$82,210 middle 50% of IN wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$34,350 median wageIN estimate · 40 jobs · 27-3099$32,030–$36,350 middle 50% of IN 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

Possible alternatives