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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, MO · 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.

$3,896 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
42.5% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−69% · 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$52,463 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.

Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5Not available → $51,875
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
21Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
37Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
30Borrowers 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.

68Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
38Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
42Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
24.6%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers
34Graduates 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$52,463$19,474 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$14,462

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

02 · BORROWING$22,312

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$52,463

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$237/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$14,462Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$22,947Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE63.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE54.1%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.

Not availableYear 1
$52,463Year 4
$51,875Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.4% 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$4,372
Estimated loan payment$237
30borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$52,463 vs. $56,359

$3,896 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$114,710 median wageMO estimate · 760 jobs · 11-2032$91,070–$156,470 middle 50% of MO wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$71,830 median wageMO estimate · 480 jobs · 25-1122$62,440–$96,320 middle 50% of MO wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$58,140 median wageMO estimate · 600 jobs · 27-3043$48,130–$77,570 middle 50% of MO wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$61,620 median wageMO estimate · 880 jobs · 27-3041$45,330–$82,420 middle 50% of MO wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$61,130 median wageMO estimate · 4,820 jobs · 27-3031$47,700–$78,220 middle 50% of MO wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$46,920 median wageMO estimate · 480 jobs · 27-3023$36,760–$73,290 middle 50% of MO wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$45,460 median wageMO estimate · 470 jobs · 27-3011$31,060–$74,510 middle 50% of MO wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$111,120 median wageMO estimate · 38,810 jobs · 11-2033$83,620–$173,240 middle 50% of MO wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$63,860 median wageMO estimate · 1,670 jobs · 13-1131$50,400–$81,190 middle 50% of MO wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$63,720 median wageMO estimate · 80 jobs · 27-3099$46,820–$81,320 middle 50% of MO 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 15.1%
02

Finance and Insurance

about 11.6%
03

Educational Services

about 11.1%
04

Retail Trade

about 8.5%
05

Information

about 8.1%

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.

Columbia, MO

University of Missouri-Columbia

$8,544 higher earnings · $1,812 less debt

Earnings
$61,007
Debt
$20,500
Annual net price
$20,268
View outcomes →
Saint Joseph, MO

Missouri Western State University

$2,596 higher earnings · $1,211 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,059
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$13,251
View outcomes →
Kansas City, MO

University of Missouri-Kansas City

$330 less debt · $1,152 lower annual net price

Earnings
$49,135
Debt
$21,982
Annual net price
$13,310
View outcomes →
Joplin, MO

Missouri Southern State University

$3,962 less debt · $2,455 lower annual net price

Earnings
$41,771
Debt
$18,350
Annual net price
$12,007
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

37 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.

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