Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Cornerstone 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.
$7,436 below the national median for the same field and credential.
Debt pressure
51.4% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−85% · 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.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$140,770
$8,000Annual price−$172,770
$16,000Annual price−$204,770
$20,000Current college-wide context−$220,770
$24,000Annual price−$236,770
$32,000Annual price−$268,770
$40,000Annual price−$300,770
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5$30,615 → Not availableNot availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median26Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot 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.
50Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers23Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count29Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$48,923$15,934 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$20,301
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$25,125
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$48,923
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$266/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.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$30,615Year 1
$48,923Year 4
Not availableYear 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
6.5% 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$4,077
Estimated loan payment$266
26borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$48,923 vs. $56,359
$7,436 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
$30,725 higher earnings · $4,749 less debt · $7,163 lower annual net price