Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Calvin University

Grand Rapids, MI · 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 trail the same-degree benchmark.

$13,221 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
53.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−107% · 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$43,138 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.

+30%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$30,071$39,062
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
25Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
20Borrowers 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
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,992

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

02 · BORROWING$23,250

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$43,138

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$246/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$22,992Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$54,222Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE70.9%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE74.1%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.

$30,071Year 1
$43,138Year 4
$39,062Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.8% 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$3,595
Estimated loan payment$246
20borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$43,138 vs. $56,359

$13,221 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$117,900 median wageMI estimate · 1,720 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$87,670 median wageMI estimate · 630 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 · 47,940 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$65,300 median wageMI estimate · 7,510 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$63,090 median wageMI estimate · 1,690 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,760 median wageMI estimate · 960 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,640 median wageMI estimate · 650 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$113,360 median wageMI estimate · 880 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$66,130 median wageMI estimate · 3,170 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$58,720 median wageMI estimate · 60 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.

Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

$36,510 higher earnings · $2,874 less debt · $9,854 lower annual net price

Earnings
$79,648
Debt
$20,376
Annual net price
$13,138
View outcomes →
Grand Rapids, MI

Aquinas College

$4,937 higher earnings · $1,018 less debt · $6,366 lower annual net price

Earnings
$48,075
Debt
$22,232
Annual net price
$16,626
View outcomes →
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University

$17,669 higher earnings · $3,312 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,807
Debt
$26,750
Annual net price
$19,680
View outcomes →
Detroit, MI

Wayne State University

$14,197 higher earnings · $10,226 lower annual net price

Earnings
$57,335
Debt
$30,500
Annual net price
$12,766
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

25 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 →