How much do Communication and Media Studies associate's degree graduates from University of Cincinnati-Main Campus earn?

The reported median is $55,995 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $17,922.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 29% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

← Program directory

COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies associate's degree at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, OH · 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 notably above similar programs.

$12,752 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 32.0% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $9,975 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: −22% · 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$19,950

$8,000Annual price+$3,950

$16,000Annual price−$12,050

$24,000Annual price−$28,050

$26,000Current college-wide context−$32,050

$32,000Annual price−$44,050

$40,000Annual price−$60,050

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5$38,767 → Not available

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

Not availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

34Borrowers 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.

207Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

115Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

115Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

10.2%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$55,995$21,187 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$25,648

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

02 · BORROWING$17,922

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$55,995

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$190/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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$25,648Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$32,171Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE85.3%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE75.0%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.

$38,767Year 1

$55,995Year 4

Not availableYear 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.1% 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$4,666

Estimated loan payment$190

34borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$55,995 vs. $43,243

$12,752 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$118,670 median wageOH estimate · 1,400 jobs · 11-2032$87,710–$158,550 middle 50% of OH wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$77,660 median wageOH estimate · 1,390 jobs · 25-1122$53,650–$82,580 middle 50% of OH wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$65,930 median wageOH estimate · 830 jobs · 27-3043$55,680–$81,060 middle 50% of OH wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$72,160 median wageOH estimate · 1,800 jobs · 27-3041$51,270–$98,440 middle 50% of OH wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$64,840 median wageOH estimate · 6,670 jobs · 27-3031$50,040–$85,890 middle 50% of OH wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$47,880 median wageOH estimate · 1,340 jobs · 27-3023$38,100–$65,900 middle 50% of OH wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$42,440 median wageOH estimate · 910 jobs · 27-3011$33,330–$56,160 middle 50% of OH wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$101,470 median wageOH estimate · 1,630 jobs · 11-2033$79,240–$135,290 middle 50% of OH wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$64,080 median wageOH estimate · 3,460 jobs · 13-1131$50,520–$81,250 middle 50% of OH wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$45,380 median wageOH estimate · 130 jobs · 27-3099$31,200–$45,940 middle 50% of OH 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