DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
← Program directory
COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at The College of Wooster

Wooster, OH · 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 close to similar programs.

$4,525 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
37.3% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−42% · 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$60,884 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.

+64%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$39,527 → $64,741
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
17Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
27Borrowers 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.

42Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
22Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
33Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
15Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$60,884$26,076 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$23,458

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

02 · BORROWING$22,681

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$60,884

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$240/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$23,458Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$75,656Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE59.5%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE73.9%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.

$39,527Year 1
$60,884Year 4
$64,741Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.7% 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$5,074
Estimated loan payment$240
27borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$60,884 vs. $56,359

$4,525 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

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.

Columbus, OH

Ohio State University-Main Campus

$1,212 higher earnings · $6,119 lower annual net price

Earnings
$62,096
Debt
$23,500
Annual net price
$17,339
View outcomes →
Hamilton, OH

Miami University-Hamilton

$1,181 less debt · $12,172 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,919
Debt
$21,500
Annual net price
$11,286
View outcomes →
Middletown, OH

Miami University-Middletown

$1,181 less debt · $12,649 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,919
Debt
$21,500
Annual net price
$10,809
View outcomes →
Westerville, OH

Otterbein University

$4,181 less debt · $4,221 lower annual net price

Earnings
$51,006
Debt
$18,500
Annual net price
$19,237
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

17 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 →