Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

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

Salt Lake City, UT · 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 notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$6,950 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
28.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$773 / year
10-year scenario
−25% · 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$63,309 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.

+34%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$43,801$58,546
112Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
115Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
149Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
240Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$14,425Awarding-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.

578Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
119Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
246Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
275Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$37,112Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$63,309$26,197 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 58 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$16,200

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

02 · BORROWING$18,017

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$63,309

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$191/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$16,200Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,557Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE86.0%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE65.0%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.

$43,801Year 1
$63,309Year 4
$58,546Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.6% 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$5,276
Estimated loan payment$191
240borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$63,309 vs. $56,359

$6,950 above 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$132,670 median wageUT estimate · 580 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$77,950 median wageUT estimate · 180 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$64,530 median wageUT estimate · 410 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$65,040 median wageUT estimate · 590 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$62,670 median wageUT estimate · 1,800 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$61,880 median wageUT estimate · 240 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,080 median wageUT estimate · 190 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$95,190 median wageUT estimate · 130 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$61,820 median wageUT estimate · 920 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$56,520 median wageUT estimate · 19,590 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.

Provo, UT

Brigham Young University

$5,534 higher earnings · $636 lower annual net price

Earnings
$68,843
Debt
$22,530
Annual net price
$15,564
View outcomes →
Orem, UT

Utah Valley University

$3,817 less debt · $9,824 lower annual net price

Earnings
$62,566
Debt
$14,200
Annual net price
$6,376
View outcomes →
Ogden, UT

Weber State University

$1,451 less debt · $5,942 lower annual net price

Earnings
$59,969
Debt
$16,566
Annual net price
$10,258
View outcomes →
Logan, UT

Utah State University

$3,267 less debt · $1,264 lower annual net price

Earnings
$58,672
Debt
$14,750
Annual net price
$14,936
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

149 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 →