Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA · Private nonprofit
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.
$5,508 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
43.6% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−42% · 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−$11,330
$8,000Annual price−$43,330
$16,000Annual price−$75,330
$24,000Annual price−$107,330
$28,000Current college-wide context−$123,330
$32,000Annual price−$139,330
$40,000Annual price−$171,330
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+54%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$40,328 → $62,066Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort30Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort34Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median59Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$63,842Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 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.
54Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers15Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count47Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
39Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,969Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$61,867$25,898 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$27,866
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$27,000
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$61,867
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$286/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.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$40,328Year 1
$61,867Year 4
$62,066Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
5.5% 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$5,156
Estimated loan payment$286
59borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$61,867 vs. $56,359
$5,508 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$176,340 median wageVA estimate · 2,610 jobs · 11-2032$132,210–$234,080 middle 50% of VA wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$85,000 median wageVA estimate · 1,530 jobs · 27-3043$64,730–$104,000 middle 50% of VA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$73,750 median wageVA estimate · 790 jobs · 25-1122$61,060–$93,440 middle 50% of VA wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$80,590 median wageVA estimate · 2,720 jobs · 27-3041$58,990–$109,090 middle 50% of VA wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$80,380 median wageVA estimate · 9,990 jobs · 27-3031$60,610–$111,600 middle 50% of VA wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,140 median wageVA estimate · 1,110 jobs · 27-3023$46,400–$105,680 middle 50% of VA wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$44,400 median wageVA estimate · 460 jobs · 27-3011$31,030–$71,960 middle 50% of VA wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$143,730 median wageVA estimate · 880 jobs · 11-2033$104,880–$191,380 middle 50% of VA wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$72,610 median wageVA estimate · 4,010 jobs · 13-1131$56,990–$95,660 middle 50% of VA wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$69,420 median wageVA estimate · 130 jobs · 27-3099$49,760–$92,560 middle 50% of VA 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.
01
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 18.3%02
Health Care and Social Assistance
about 13.8%03
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
about 13.8%04
Educational Services
about 8.3%05
Finance and Insurance
about 8.3%
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.
Charlottesville, VA
University of Virginia-Main Campus
$14,376 higher earnings · $5,770 less debt · $6,301 lower annual net price