Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Maine

Orono, ME · 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.

$1,947 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
44.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−47% · 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$58,306 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.

+50%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$37,192$55,948
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
27Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
61Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$24,374Awarding-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.

99Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
24Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
41Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
59Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,497Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$58,306$21,809 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$17,510

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

02 · BORROWING$26,057

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$58,306

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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$17,510Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,328Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE96.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE54.9%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.

$37,192Year 1
$58,306Year 4
$55,948Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.7% 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$4,859
Estimated loan payment$276
61borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$58,306 vs. $56,359

$1,947 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$166,940 median wageME estimate · 74,850 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,000 median wageME estimate · 60 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$76,910 median wageU.S. estimate · 200 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$62,450 median wageME estimate · 1,400 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$50,180 median wageME estimate · 300 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$50,090 median wageME estimate · 250 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$44,000 median wageME estimate · 170 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$116,470 median wageME estimate · 220 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$66,790 median wageME estimate · 930 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$47,720 median wageME estimate · 50 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2k 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.

Portland, ME

University of Southern Maine

$3,434 less debt · $3,914 lower annual net price

Earnings
$53,033
Debt
$22,623
Annual net price
$13,596
View outcomes →
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

$21,342 higher earnings · $5,681 less debt · $4,372 lower annual net price

Earnings
$79,648
Debt
$20,376
Annual net price
$13,138
View outcomes →
Berkeley, CA

University of California, Berkeley

$17,306 higher earnings · $14,877 less debt · $4,029 lower annual net price

Earnings
$75,612
Debt
$11,180
Annual net price
$13,481
View outcomes →
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

$16,917 higher earnings · $11,129 less debt · $845 lower annual net price

Earnings
$75,223
Debt
$14,928
Annual net price
$16,665
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

27 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 →