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Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Federal field 0901

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$4,259 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 49.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −73% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: 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−$109,000

$8,000Annual price−$141,000

$16,000Annual price−$173,000

$20,000Current college-wide context−$189,000

$24,000Annual price−$205,000

$32,000Annual price−$237,000

$40,000Annual price−$269,000

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+46%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$35,792 → $52,291

62Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

38Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

83Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

98Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$16,610Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,858

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$52,100

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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$19,858Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,422Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE98.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE59.9%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.

$35,792Year 1

$52,100Year 4

$52,291Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.4% 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$4,342

Estimated loan payment$276

98borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$52,100 vs. $56,359

$4,259 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$146,910 median wageU.S. estimate · 74,850 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$71,300 median wageSD estimate · 80 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$56,700 median wageSD estimate · 60 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$64,520 median wageSD estimate · 210 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$56,730 median wageSD estimate · 140 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$43,520 median wageSD estimate · 190 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$40,630 median wageSD estimate · 230 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$125,470 median wageU.S. estimate · 38,810 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k 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 · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$66,800 median wageSD estimate · 80 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNO MATCHNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 99-9999

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