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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown, PA · 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 below similar programs.

$6,845 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
52.5% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−84% · 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$49,514 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.

+81%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$31,003 → $56,121
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
41Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
63Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
39Borrowers 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.

21Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
Not reportedPell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
15Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
60Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,274Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$49,514$14,240 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$26,598

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

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$49,514

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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$26,598Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$50,865Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE77.9%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE76.2%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.

$31,003Year 1
$49,514Year 4
$56,121Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.7% 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$4,126
Estimated loan payment$276
39borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$49,514 vs. $56,359

$6,845 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$118,050 median wagePA estimate · 2,210 jobs · 11-2032$88,450–$153,950 middle 50% of PA wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$77,790 median wagePA estimate · 1,530 jobs · 25-1122$63,630–$94,760 middle 50% of PA wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$77,410 median wagePA estimate · 1,080 jobs · 27-3043$54,030–$102,480 middle 50% of PA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$63,460 median wagePA estimate · 3,240 jobs · 27-3041$46,530–$87,770 middle 50% of PA wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,200 median wageU.S. estimate · 1,160 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$57,460 median wagePA estimate · 11,180 jobs · 27-3031$45,930–$77,480 middle 50% of PA wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$52,080 median wagePA estimate · 830 jobs · 27-3011$31,810–$76,230 middle 50% of PA wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$111,280 median wagePA estimate · 1,950 jobs · 11-2033$95,400–$138,960 middle 50% of PA wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$69,470 median wagePA estimate · 470 jobs · 27-3099$57,100–$75,130 middle 50% of PA wages+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$63,730 median wagePA estimate · 6,180 jobs · 13-1131$55,230–$81,190 middle 50% of PA wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNO 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.

Erie, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

$5,991 higher earnings · $125 less debt · $2,040 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,505
Debt
$25,875
Annual net price
$24,558
View outcomes →
New Kensington, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington

$5,991 higher earnings · $125 less debt · $8,293 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,505
Debt
$25,875
Annual net price
$18,305
View outcomes →
Dallas, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre

$5,991 higher earnings · $125 less debt · $10,150 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,505
Debt
$25,875
Annual net price
$16,448
View outcomes →
Altoona, PA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

$5,991 higher earnings · $125 less debt · $4,385 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,505
Debt
$25,875
Annual net price
$22,213
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

63 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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