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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg

Middletown, PA · 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.

$854 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
46.6% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−62% · 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$55,505 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.

+44%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$34,181 → $49,390
112Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
107Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
166Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
360Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$32,500Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$23,330

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

02 · BORROWING$25,875

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$55,505

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$274/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$23,330Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$32,521Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE97.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE26.1%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.

$34,181Year 1
$55,505Year 4
$49,390Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.9% 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$4,625
Estimated loan payment$274
360borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$55,505 vs. $56,359

$854 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
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS

Where graduates work five years later

The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.

01

Health Care and Social Assistance

about 14.7%
02

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

about 13.6%
03

Public Administration

about 10.4%
04

Retail Trade

about 9.5%
05

Finance and Insurance

about 7.9%

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.

Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

$58,761 higher earnings · $10,238 less debt

Earnings
$114,266
Debt
$15,637
Annual net price
$28,699
View outcomes →
Philadelphia, PA

La Salle University

$5,842 higher earnings · $3,921 lower annual net price

Earnings
$61,347
Debt
$26,924
Annual net price
$19,409
View outcomes →
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

$2,968 higher earnings · $1,625 less debt

Earnings
$58,473
Debt
$24,250
Annual net price
$28,905
View outcomes →
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

$25,992 higher earnings

Earnings
$81,497
Debt
$26,456
Annual net price
$43,756
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

166 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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