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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit

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 notably above similar programs.

$13,064 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
38.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$16,058 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
−10% · 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$69,423 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.

+24%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$50,074 → $62,102
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
44Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
55Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
50Borrowers 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.

52Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
21Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
15Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
31Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
55Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,491Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$69,423$32,932 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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,900

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

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$69,423

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/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$22,900Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$67,613Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE61.0%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE76.6%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.

$50,074Year 1
$69,423Year 4
$62,102Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.9% 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$5,785
Estimated loan payment$286
50borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$69,423 vs. $56,359

$13,064 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$139,040 median wageMN estimate · 1,230 jobs · 11-2032$113,110–$174,440 middle 50% of MN wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$83,380 median wageMN estimate · 450 jobs · 25-1122$75,500–$95,560 middle 50% of MN wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$72,810 median wageMN estimate · 720 jobs · 27-3043$61,970–$86,390 middle 50% of MN wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$68,620 median wageMN estimate · 8,260 jobs · 27-3031$54,880–$89,500 middle 50% of MN wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$62,650 median wageMN estimate · 1,970 jobs · 27-3041$48,200–$79,710 middle 50% of MN wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$46,490 median wageMN estimate · 510 jobs · 27-3023$36,600–$59,460 middle 50% of MN wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$43,530 median wageMN estimate · 750 jobs · 27-3011$34,860–$50,560 middle 50% of MN wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$126,920 median wageMN estimate · 680 jobs · 11-2033$100,030–$180,520 middle 50% of MN wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$76,910 median wageMN estimate · 3,190 jobs · 13-1131$61,620–$101,090 middle 50% of MN wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$71,090 median wageMN estimate · 200 jobs · 27-3099$46,430–$72,990 middle 50% of MN 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
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS

Where graduates work five years later

The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.

01

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

about 16.9%
02

Finance and Insurance

about 13.8%
03

Educational Services

about 13.0%
04

Management of Companies and Enterprises

about 7.5%
05

Health Care and Social Assistance

about 6.7%

How to read this: This is an observed industry mix, not a list of job titles or proof that every graduate worked in the field studied. Counts and shares are approximate because Census privacy protections add statistical noise.

Coverage is limited to institutions and states participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program. These figures do not affect DegreeVerdict ROI calculations.

Download the official Census source file →
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.

Duluth, MN

University of Minnesota-Duluth

$2,818 less debt · $4,157 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,023
Debt
$24,182
Annual net price
$18,743
View outcomes →
Saint Cloud, MN

Saint Cloud State University

$2,000 less debt · $9,371 lower annual net price

Earnings
$56,388
Debt
$25,000
Annual net price
$13,529
View outcomes →
Mankato, MN

Minnesota State University-Mankato

$1,000 less debt · $3,761 lower annual net price

Earnings
$56,119
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$19,139
View outcomes →
Winona, MN

Winona State University

$1,750 less debt · $5,397 lower annual net price

Earnings
$53,456
Debt
$25,250
Annual net price
$17,503
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

55 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 →