COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · 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.
$8,147 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 45.3% 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−$147,880
$8,000Annual price−$179,880
$14,000Current college-wide context−$203,880
$16,000Annual price−$211,880
$24,000Annual price−$243,880
$32,000Annual price−$275,880
$40,000Annual price−$307,880
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$48,212$15,223 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 23 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$14,265
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$21,831
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$48,212
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$231/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$14,265Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,489Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE81.1%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE50.2%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.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
5.7% 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$4,018
Estimated loan payment$231
131borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$48,212 vs. $56,359
$8,147 below the national median for the same field and credential.
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$92,940–$163,130 middle 50% of TN wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$66,630 median wageTN estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1122$59,400–$79,060 middle 50% of TN wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$58,870 median wageTN estimate · 1,260 jobs · 27-3043$47,120–$78,900 middle 50% of TN wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,390 median wageTN estimate · 600 jobs · 27-3023$33,020–$79,110 middle 50% of TN wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$60,900 median wageTN estimate · 3,380 jobs · 27-3031$47,320–$79,210 middle 50% of TN wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$59,550 median wageTN estimate · 1,390 jobs · 27-3041$46,010–$80,940 middle 50% of TN wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$48,290 median wageTN estimate · 970 jobs · 27-3011$34,370–$73,750 middle 50% of TN wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$107,760 median wageTN estimate · 300 jobs · 11-2033$80,660–$132,620 middle 50% of TN wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$61,370 median wageTN estimate · 1,930 jobs · 13-1131$50,440–$77,680 middle 50% of TN wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$45,670 median wageTN estimate · 630 jobs · 27-3099$35,470–$63,690 middle 50% of TN wages+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentNO 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.
Information
Finance and Insurance
Educational Services
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Transportation and Warehousing
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.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
$9,182 higher earnings · $956 less debt
- Earnings
- $57,394
- Debt
- $20,875
- Annual net price
- $18,976
Lipscomb University
$4,055 higher earnings · $578 less debt
- Earnings
- $52,267
- Debt
- $21,253
- Annual net price
- $24,739
King University
$10,558 higher earnings
- Earnings
- $58,770
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $22,347
Belmont University
$525 higher earnings
- Earnings
- $48,737
- Debt
- $22,125
- Annual net price
- $33,147
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
90 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
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 →