Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Mount St. Mary's University

Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofit · 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.

$1,310 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
45.6% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−53% · 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$57,669 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.

+34%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$39,055$52,280
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
37Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
30Borrowers 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.

49Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
22Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
33Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,491Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$57,669$21,178 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 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.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,655

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

02 · BORROWING$26,312

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$57,669

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$279/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$22,655Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$63,731Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE73.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE65.4%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.

$39,055Year 1
$57,669Year 4
$52,280Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.8% 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$4,806
Estimated loan payment$279
30borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$57,669 vs. $56,359

$1,310 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$149,380 median wageMD estimate · 1,530 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$104,330 median wageMD estimate · 540 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$83,510 median wageMD estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$79,560 median wageMD estimate · 4,190 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$75,550 median wageMD estimate · 1,850 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$74,480 median wageMD estimate · 290 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$63,680 median wageMD estimate · 580 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$130,750 median wageMD estimate · 810 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$79,780 median wageMD estimate · 2,010 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$57,590 median wageMD estimate · 350 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.

College Park, MD

University of Maryland-College Park

$16,733 higher earnings · $6,312 less debt · $6,977 lower annual net price

Earnings
$74,402
Debt
$20,000
Annual net price
$15,678
View outcomes →
Westminster, MD

McDaniel College

$7,742 higher earnings · $1,312 less debt · $739 lower annual net price

Earnings
$65,411
Debt
$25,000
Annual net price
$21,916
View outcomes →
Towson, MD

Towson University

$5,623 higher earnings · $6,003 less debt · $5,242 lower annual net price

Earnings
$63,292
Debt
$20,309
Annual net price
$17,413
View outcomes →
Baltimore, MD

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

$3,288 higher earnings · $1,923 less debt · $6,188 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,957
Debt
$24,389
Annual net price
$16,467
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

37 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 →