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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Lindsey Wilson University

Columbia, KY · 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 below similar programs.

$16,673 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
67.5% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−122% · 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$39,686 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.

+49%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$25,549 → $37,978
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
23Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
34Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
33Borrowers 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
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.

97Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
73Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
58Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
35Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,058Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$39,686$5,628 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$15,070

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

02 · BORROWING$26,769

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$39,686

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$284/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$15,070Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$40,879Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATENot availableInstitution context
COMPLETION RATE44.1%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.

$25,549Year 1
$39,686Year 4
$37,978Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

8.6% 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$3,307
Estimated loan payment$284
33borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$39,686 vs. $56,359

$16,673 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$112,320 median wageKY estimate · 510 jobs · 11-2032$89,200–$144,240 middle 50% of KY wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$62,380 median wageKY estimate · 470 jobs · 25-1122$48,590–$83,050 middle 50% of KY wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$48,780 median wageKY estimate · 350 jobs · 27-3043$40,760–$64,550 middle 50% of KY wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$60,150 median wageKY estimate · 2,580 jobs · 27-3031$47,920–$77,670 middle 50% of KY wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$59,430 median wageKY estimate · 490 jobs · 27-3041$45,540–$84,160 middle 50% of KY wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$47,530 median wageKY estimate · 370 jobs · 27-3023$34,940–$71,760 middle 50% of KY wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$36,170 median wageKY estimate · 340 jobs · 27-3011$28,160–$53,810 middle 50% of KY wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$124,770 median wageKY estimate · 210 jobs · 11-2033$95,420–$153,720 middle 50% of KY wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$68,270 median wageKY estimate · 1,030 jobs · 13-1131$52,340–$85,060 middle 50% of KY wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$39,050 median wageKY estimate · 40 jobs · 27-3099$34,560–$70,160 middle 50% of KY 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

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.

Highland Heights, KY

Northern Kentucky University

$13,396 higher earnings · $1,769 less debt · $6,879 lower annual net price

Earnings
$53,082
Debt
$25,000
Annual net price
$8,191
View outcomes →
Georgetown, KY

Georgetown College

$11,709 higher earnings · $19 less debt · $975 lower annual net price

Earnings
$51,395
Debt
$26,750
Annual net price
$14,095
View outcomes →
Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University

$10,706 higher earnings · $3,269 less debt · $4,080 lower annual net price

Earnings
$50,392
Debt
$23,500
Annual net price
$10,990
View outcomes →
Morehead, KY

Morehead State University

$4,463 higher earnings · $1,912 less debt · $5,277 lower annual net price

Earnings
$44,149
Debt
$24,857
Annual net price
$9,793
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

34 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.

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