Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · 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.

$976 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
53.2% 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$57,335 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.

+26%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,595$46,281
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
31Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
61Borrowers 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.

130Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
21Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
80Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
63Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$57,335$24,346 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$12,766

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

02 · BORROWING$30,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$57,335

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$323/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$12,766Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$27,350Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE81.2%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE58.4%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.

$36,595Year 1
$57,335Year 4
$46,281Year 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$4,778
Estimated loan payment$323
61borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$57,335 vs. $56,359

$976 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$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

$22,313 higher earnings · $10,124 less debt

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

Michigan State University

$3,472 higher earnings · $3,750 less debt

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

Oakland University

$6,375 less debt · $3,646 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,662
Debt
$24,125
Annual net price
$9,120
View outcomes →
University Center, MI

Saginaw Valley State University

$2,500 less debt · $1,991 lower annual net price

Earnings
$53,825
Debt
$28,000
Annual net price
$10,775
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

31 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 →