Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Wichita State University

Wichita, KS · 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.

$5,586 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
49.6% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−75% · 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.

What stays fixed$50,773 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.

+26%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$35,035$44,116
62Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
73Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
95Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
92Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-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.

134Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
21Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
85Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
65Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,058Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$50,773$16,715 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.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$13,194

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

02 · BORROWING$25,159

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$50,773

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$267/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,194Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$21,780Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE94.0%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE51.0%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.

$35,035Year 1
$50,773Year 4
$44,116Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.3% 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$4,231
Estimated loan payment$267
92borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$50,773 vs. $56,359

$5,586 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$129,760 median wageKS estimate · 300 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$65,840 median wageKS estimate · 240 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$64,180 median wageKS estimate · 300 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$64,860 median wageKS estimate · 2,340 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$61,920 median wageKS estimate · 500 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$45,870 median wageKS estimate · 400 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$35,130 median wageKS estimate · 440 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$121,210 median wageKS estimate · 160 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$73,620 median wageU.S. estimate · 19,590 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$64,820 median wageKS estimate · 1,100 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNO MATCHNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 99-9999
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.

Lawrence, KS

University of Kansas

$9,485 higher earnings · $2,909 less debt

Earnings
$60,258
Debt
$22,250
Annual net price
$18,059
View outcomes →
Manhattan, KS

Kansas State University

$1,830 higher earnings · $214 less debt

Earnings
$52,603
Debt
$24,945
Annual net price
$19,406
View outcomes →
Ottawa, KS

Ottawa University-Ottawa

$8,672 higher earnings

Earnings
$59,445
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$27,963
View outcomes →
Overland Park, KS

Ottawa University-Kansas City

$8,672 higher earnings

Earnings
$59,445
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
Not available
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

95 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 →