Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, TN · 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 trail the same-degree benchmark.

$12,848 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
57.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−107% · 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.

What stays fixed$43,511 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.

+74%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$25,643$44,606
80Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
88Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
131Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
115Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$12,624Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 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.

94Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
67Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
54Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$43,511$10,522 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.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$9,735

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

02 · BORROWING$25,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$43,511

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$265/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$9,735Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$22,233Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE96.4%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE40.2%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.

$25,643Year 1
$43,511Year 4
$44,606Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

7.3% 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$3,626
Estimated loan payment$265
115borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$43,511 vs. $56,359

$12,848 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$127,390 median wageTN estimate · 700 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$66,630 median wageTN estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$58,870 median wageTN estimate · 1,260 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,390 median wageTN estimate · 600 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$60,900 median wageTN estimate · 3,380 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$59,550 median wageTN estimate · 1,390 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$48,290 median wageTN estimate · 970 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$107,760 median wageTN estimate · 300 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$61,370 median wageTN estimate · 1,930 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$45,670 median wageTN estimate · 630 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2k 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.

Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

$13,883 higher earnings · $4,125 less debt

Earnings
$57,394
Debt
$20,875
Annual net price
$18,976
View outcomes →
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University

$8,756 higher earnings · $3,747 less debt

Earnings
$52,267
Debt
$21,253
Annual net price
$24,739
View outcomes →
Nashville, TN

Belmont University

$5,226 higher earnings · $2,875 less debt

Earnings
$48,737
Debt
$22,125
Annual net price
$33,147
View outcomes →
Chattanooga, TN

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

$4,701 higher earnings · $3,169 less debt

Earnings
$48,212
Debt
$21,831
Annual net price
$14,265
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

131 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 →