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Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Name: Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's Degree outcomes at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Chattanooga, 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.

$8,147 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 45.3% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −86% · 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−$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.

+45%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$33,082 → $48,027

68Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

74Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

90Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

131Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$15,620Awarding-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.

397Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

84Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

203Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

210Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

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.

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.

$33,082Year 1

$48,212Year 4

$48,027Year 5

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.

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

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