DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
← Program directory
COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, LA · 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 below similar programs.

$19,086 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
58.4% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−133% · 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$37,273 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.

+37%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$25,137 → $34,523
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
23Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
37Borrowers 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.

109Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
64Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
66Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
11.9%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers
25Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,203Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$37,273$5,070 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$13,606

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

02 · BORROWING$21,750

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$37,273

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$231/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$13,606Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,431Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE92.5%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE43.2%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.

$25,137Year 1
$37,273Year 4
$34,523Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

7.4% 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$3,106
Estimated loan payment$231
37borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$37,273 vs. $56,359

$19,086 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$94,380 median wageLA estimate · 320 jobs · 11-2032$76,310–$132,360 middle 50% of LA wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$89,520 median wageLA estimate · 480 jobs · 27-3043$55,860–$105,970 middle 50% of LA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$77,250 median wageLA estimate · 170 jobs · 25-1122$60,710–$94,310 middle 50% of LA wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$60,470 median wageLA estimate · 1,710 jobs · 27-3031$49,490–$77,890 middle 50% of LA wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$58,860 median wageLA estimate · 330 jobs · 27-3041$44,640–$76,030 middle 50% of LA wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$50,750 median wageLA estimate · 410 jobs · 27-3023$43,740–$76,490 middle 50% of LA wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$33,020 median wageLA estimate · 190 jobs · 27-3011$22,530–$46,060 middle 50% of LA wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$122,150 median wageLA estimate · 50 jobs · 11-2033$97,350–$124,440 middle 50% of LA wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$73,620 median wageU.S. estimate · 980 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$72,030 median wageLA estimate · 330 jobs · 13-1131$47,930–$82,560 middle 50% of LA wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNO 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.

01

Educational Services

about 21.6%
02

Information

about 13.0%
03

Health Care and Social Assistance

about 10.0%
04

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

about 8.2%
05

Retail Trade

about 8.2%

How to read this: This is an observed industry mix, not a list of job titles or proof that every graduate worked in the field studied. Counts and shares are approximate because Census privacy protections add statistical noise.

Coverage is limited to institutions and states participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program. These figures do not affect DegreeVerdict ROI calculations.

Download the official Census source file →
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.

Hammond, LA

Southeastern Louisiana University

$8,778 higher earnings · $90 less debt · $452 lower annual net price

Earnings
$46,051
Debt
$21,660
Annual net price
$13,154
View outcomes →
Lake Charles, LA

McNeese State University

$9,893 higher earnings · $1,113 lower annual net price

Earnings
$47,166
Debt
$22,625
Annual net price
$12,493
View outcomes →
Thibodaux, LA

Nicholls State University

$9,082 higher earnings · $659 lower annual net price

Earnings
$46,355
Debt
$25,000
Annual net price
$12,947
View outcomes →
Lafayette, LA

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

$7,159 higher earnings · $76 lower annual net price

Earnings
$44,432
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$13,530
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

23 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 →