COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at University of Houston-Downtown
Houston, TX · 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 close to similar programs.
$544 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 49.9% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- Not reached
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −46% · 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−$60,970
$8,000Annual price−$92,970
$11,000Current college-wide context−$104,970
$16,000Annual price−$124,970
$24,000Annual price−$156,970
$32,000Annual price−$188,970
$40,000Annual price−$220,970
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$33,298Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$56,903$23,605 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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$10,542
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$28,375
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$56,903
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$301/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$10,542Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$20,749Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE90.0%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE33.2%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?
6.3% 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$4,742
Estimated loan payment$301
112borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$56,903 vs. $56,359
$544 above 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$126,670 median wageTX estimate · 8,190 jobs · 11-2032$99,340–$171,650 middle 50% of TX wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$77,050 median wageTX estimate · 2,880 jobs · 25-1122$60,680–$100,220 middle 50% of TX wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$69,990 median wageTX estimate · 2,320 jobs · 27-3043$53,950–$96,260 middle 50% of TX wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$65,160 median wageTX estimate · 25,220 jobs · 27-3031$50,480–$85,370 middle 50% of TX wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$49,050 median wageTX estimate · 960 jobs · 27-3011$35,540–$84,600 middle 50% of TX wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$48,470 median wageTX estimate · 2,670 jobs · 27-3023$41,850–$70,610 middle 50% of TX wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$45,950 median wageTX estimate · 6,460 jobs · 27-3041$29,950–$73,160 middle 50% of TX wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$96,520 median wageTX estimate · 2,560 jobs · 11-2033$78,200–$125,470 middle 50% of TX wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$61,290 median wageTX estimate · 570 jobs · 27-3099$44,300–$68,520 middle 50% of TX wages+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$60,320 median wageTX estimate · 4,020 jobs · 13-1131$48,290–$74,990 middle 50% of TX 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.
Educational Services
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Finance and Insurance
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 Texas at Austin
$15,307 higher earnings · $7,875 less debt
- Earnings
- $72,210
- Debt
- $20,500
- Annual net price
- $19,857
Texas A&M University-College Station
$7,630 higher earnings · $10,593 less debt
- Earnings
- $64,533
- Debt
- $17,782
- Annual net price
- $21,315
Texas Christian University
$6,628 higher earnings · $6,875 less debt
- Earnings
- $63,531
- Debt
- $21,500
- Annual net price
- $36,660
The University of Texas Permian Basin
$3,902 higher earnings · $5,523 less debt
- Earnings
- $60,805
- Debt
- $22,852
- Annual net price
- $12,723
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
122 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 →