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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies associate's degree at UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey

Cranford, NJ · 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 below similar programs.

$6,235 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
19.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−175% · 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$37,008 observed annual earnings · 2 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.

+63%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$21,484 → $34,975
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
25Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
30Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
33Borrowers 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.

145Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
23Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
107Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
Not reportedFederal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
20.8%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 35 non-completers
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$37,008$926 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$8,257

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

02 · BORROWING$7,350

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$37,008

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$78/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$8,257Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$13,569Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATENot availableInstitution context
COMPLETION RATE35.4%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.

$21,484Year 1
$37,008Year 4
$34,975Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.5% 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$3,084
Estimated loan payment$78
33borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$37,008 vs. $43,243

$6,235 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$174,980 median wageNJ estimate · 2,420 jobs · 11-2032$133,120–$225,340 middle 50% of NJ wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$81,590 median wageNJ estimate · 1,180 jobs · 27-3043$60,610–$103,120 middle 50% of NJ wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$77,780 median wageNJ estimate · 1,380 jobs · 25-1122$49,970–$101,790 middle 50% of NJ wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$81,680 median wageNJ estimate · 2,120 jobs · 27-3041$64,990–$107,830 middle 50% of NJ wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$80,130 median wageNJ estimate · 4,980 jobs · 27-3031$58,410–$105,030 middle 50% of NJ wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$70,800 median wageNJ estimate · 190 jobs · 27-3011$50,640–$172,670 middle 50% of NJ wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$59,830 median wageNJ estimate · 500 jobs · 27-3023$46,550–$82,770 middle 50% of NJ wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$140,500 median wageNJ estimate · 750 jobs · 11-2033$114,280–$172,610 middle 50% of NJ wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$77,170 median wageNJ estimate · 1,950 jobs · 13-1131$61,790–$98,220 middle 50% of NJ wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$66,830 median wageNJ estimate · 480 jobs · 27-3099$34,610–$85,060 middle 50% of NJ 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.

Randolph, NJ

County College of Morris

$6,660 higher earnings

Earnings
$43,668
Debt
$9,000
Annual net price
$8,895
View outcomes →
Media, PA

Delaware County Community College

$10,462 higher earnings · $225 less debt · $1,681 lower annual net price

Earnings
$47,470
Debt
$7,125
Annual net price
$6,576
View outcomes →
Saratoga, CA

West Valley College

$28,272 higher earnings · $4,834 lower annual net price

Earnings
$65,280
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$3,423
View outcomes →
San Mateo, CA

College of San Mateo

$28,112 higher earnings · $7,721 lower annual net price

Earnings
$65,120
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$536
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

30 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 →