Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC · 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 below similar programs.
$8,056 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
55.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−86% · 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−$146,970
$8,000Annual price−$178,970
$15,000Current college-wide context−$206,970
$16,000Current college-wide context−$210,970
$24,000Annual price−$242,970
$32,000Annual price−$274,970
$40,000Annual price−$306,970
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+10%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$35,198 → $38,55820Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort22Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort35Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median46Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$21,075Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot 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.
95Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers61Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count68Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
42Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$48,303$15,314 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$15,343
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$27,000
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$48,303
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$286/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.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$35,198Year 1
$48,303Year 4
$38,558Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
7.1% 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$4,025
Estimated loan payment$286
46borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$48,303 vs. $56,359
$8,056 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$104,920 median wageSC estimate · 650 jobs · 11-2032$80,010–$145,240 middle 50% of SC wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$79,810 median wageSC estimate · 320 jobs · 25-1122$61,840–$97,220 middle 50% of SC wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$51,920 median wageSC estimate · 520 jobs · 27-3043$41,610–$76,330 middle 50% of SC wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$62,730 median wageSC estimate · 2,950 jobs · 27-3031$49,150–$92,560 middle 50% of SC wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$62,000 median wageSC estimate · 500 jobs · 27-3041$48,250–$76,300 middle 50% of SC wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$47,940 median wageSC estimate · 480 jobs · 27-3023$40,780–$61,360 middle 50% of SC wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$30,960 median wageSC estimate · 150 jobs · 27-3011$21,520–$48,530 middle 50% of SC wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$103,240 median wageSC estimate · 220 jobs · 11-2033$80,340–$140,280 middle 50% of SC wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$73,620 median wageU.S. estimate · 19,590 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$62,720 median wageSC estimate · 1,200 jobs · 13-1131$52,370–$81,260 middle 50% of SC 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
Information
about 15.7%02
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 11.9%03
Finance and Insurance
about 10.5%04
Educational Services
about 9.7%05
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
about 9.2%
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.
Conway, SC
Coastal Carolina University
$2,707 higher earnings · $2,000 less debt · $1,377 lower annual net price