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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to similar programs.

$4,913 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
50.5% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−73% · Negative payoff
Available price data
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$51,446 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.

+48%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$31,169 → $46,081
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
40Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
56Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
64Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 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.

120Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
22Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
60Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
67Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
55Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$51,446$18,457 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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$15,273

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

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$51,446

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$15,273Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$29,237Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE84.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE57.6%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.

$31,169Year 1
$51,446Year 4
$46,081Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.4% 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$4,287
Estimated loan payment$276
64borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$51,446 vs. $56,359

$4,913 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$91,340–$164,630 middle 50% of MI wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$87,670 median wageMI estimate · 630 jobs · 25-1122$67,250–$107,460 middle 50% of MI wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 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 · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$65,300 median wageMI estimate · 7,510 jobs · 27-3031$50,160–$86,770 middle 50% of MI wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$63,090 median wageMI estimate · 1,690 jobs · 27-3041$49,120–$77,370 middle 50% of MI wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,760 median wageMI estimate · 960 jobs · 27-3023$38,980–$98,390 middle 50% of MI wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,640 median wageMI estimate · 650 jobs · 27-3011$30,570–$77,070 middle 50% of MI wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$113,360 median wageMI estimate · 880 jobs · 11-2033$89,160–$149,100 middle 50% of MI wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$66,130 median wageMI estimate · 3,170 jobs · 13-1131$51,750–$81,810 middle 50% of MI wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$58,720 median wageMI estimate · 60 jobs · 27-3099$43,750–$64,820 middle 50% of MI wages+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 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

$28,202 higher earnings · $5,624 less debt · $2,135 lower annual net price

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

Oakland University

$4,216 higher earnings · $1,875 less debt · $6,153 lower annual net price

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

Wayne State University

$5,889 higher earnings · $2,507 lower annual net price

Earnings
$57,335
Debt
$30,500
Annual net price
$12,766
View outcomes →
Albion, MI

Albion College

$2,854 higher earnings · $972 lower annual net price

Earnings
$54,300
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$14,301
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

56 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 →