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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at University of Louisville

Louisville, KY · 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 close to similar programs.

$723 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
42.0% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−58% · 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$55,636 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.

+35%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$38,219 → $51,634
181Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
162Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
225Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
260Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$22,338Awarding-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.

382Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
68Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
180Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
181Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
11.0%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 43 non-completers
243Graduates 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$55,636$21,578 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 25 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$17,988

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

02 · BORROWING$23,375

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$55,636

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$248/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$17,988Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$32,941Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE79.4%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE61.2%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.

$38,219Year 1
$55,636Year 4
$51,634Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.3% 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$4,636
Estimated loan payment$248
260borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$55,636 vs. $56,359

$723 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.

Berea, KY

Berea College

$17,574 less debt · $11,882 lower annual net price

Earnings
$41,723
Debt
$5,801
Annual net price
$6,106
View outcomes →
Williamsburg, KY

University of the Cumberlands

$4,044 less debt · $3,881 lower annual net price

Earnings
$40,699
Debt
$19,331
Annual net price
$14,107
View outcomes →
Crestview Hills, KY

Thomas More University

$2,843 higher earnings

Earnings
$58,479
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$21,835
View outcomes →
Lexington, KY

University of Kentucky

$17 higher earnings

Earnings
$55,653
Debt
$23,875
Annual net price
$18,851
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

225 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 →