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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at East Carolina University

Greenville, NC · 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.

$3,073 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
39.1% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−41% · 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$59,432 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.

+50%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$37,813 → $56,874
193Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
164Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
257Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
363Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$25,450Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
0Recent 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.

711Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
152Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
365Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
357Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
4.4%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 33 non-completers
274Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,203Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$59,432$27,229 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 60 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$15,739

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

02 · BORROWING$23,250

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$59,432

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$246/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$15,739Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$23,867Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE89.2%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE62.6%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.

$37,813Year 1
$59,432Year 4
$56,874Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.0% 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$4,953
Estimated loan payment$246
363borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$59,432 vs. $56,359

$3,073 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$132,280 median wageNC estimate · 1,510 jobs · 11-2032$103,700–$173,020 middle 50% of NC wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$65,850 median wageNC estimate · 950 jobs · 25-1122$55,780–$81,420 middle 50% of NC wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$63,660 median wageNC estimate · 1,810 jobs · 27-3043$47,940–$83,360 middle 50% of NC wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$73,740 median wageNC estimate · 1,870 jobs · 27-3041$55,950–$84,050 middle 50% of NC wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$67,230 median wageNC estimate · 9,910 jobs · 27-3031$51,530–$89,990 middle 50% of NC wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$58,670 median wageNC estimate · 930 jobs · 27-3023$39,800–$76,040 middle 50% of NC wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,910 median wageNC estimate · 830 jobs · 27-3011$35,240–$68,610 middle 50% of NC wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$125,870 median wageNC estimate · 1,030 jobs · 11-2033$94,730–$166,610 middle 50% of NC wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$66,100 median wageNC estimate · 3,700 jobs · 13-1131$53,890–$83,200 middle 50% of NC wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$42,920 median wageNC estimate · 19,590 jobs · 27-3099$37,250–$48,370 middle 50% of NC 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 13.2%
02

Educational Services

about 12.3%
03

Information

about 10.0%
04

Finance and Insurance

about 8.3%
05

Health Care and Social Assistance

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.

Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

$10,808 higher earnings · $7,750 less debt · $4,084 lower annual net price

Earnings
$70,240
Debt
$15,500
Annual net price
$11,655
View outcomes →
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University

$18,552 higher earnings · $1,000 less debt

Earnings
$77,984
Debt
$22,250
Annual net price
$28,719
View outcomes →
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

$2,607 higher earnings · $926 less debt

Earnings
$62,039
Debt
$22,324
Annual net price
$17,303
View outcomes →
Charlotte, NC

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

$975 higher earnings · $304 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,407
Debt
$24,050
Annual net price
$15,435
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

257 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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