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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, WA · 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 notably above similar programs.

$6,052 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
40.1% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−37% · 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.

What stays fixed$62,411 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.

+76%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$32,260 → $56,672
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
18Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
29Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
47Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$53,076Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not 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.

31Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
22Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
21Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
25Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,073Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$62,411$23,338 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$24,488

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

02 · BORROWING$25,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$62,411

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$265/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$24,488Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$56,826Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE83.4%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE62.0%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.

$32,260Year 1
$62,411Year 4
$56,672Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.1% 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$5,201
Estimated loan payment$265
47borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$62,411 vs. $56,359

$6,052 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$159,440 median wageWA estimate · 1,610 jobs · 11-2032$128,760–$198,500 middle 50% of WA wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$85,700 median wageWA estimate · 770 jobs · 27-3043$65,330–$109,000 middle 50% of WA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$75,330 median wageWA estimate · 420 jobs · 25-1122$58,730–$94,950 middle 50% of WA wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$87,470 median wageWA estimate · 6,430 jobs · 27-3031$71,140–$111,890 middle 50% of WA wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$77,850 median wageWA estimate · 1,860 jobs · 27-3041$56,900–$100,580 middle 50% of WA wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$54,760 median wageWA estimate · 880 jobs · 27-3023$46,190–$79,640 middle 50% of WA wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$44,420 median wageWA estimate · 620 jobs · 27-3011$43,610–$76,410 middle 50% of WA wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$137,010 median wageWA estimate · 1,050 jobs · 11-2033$112,090–$182,260 middle 50% of WA wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$79,000 median wageWA estimate · 3,870 jobs · 13-1131$61,570–$99,640 middle 50% of WA wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$52,590 median wageWA estimate · 260 jobs · 27-3099$38,090–$81,710 middle 50% of WA 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
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.

Seattle, WA

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

$1,742 higher earnings · $8,567 less debt · $10,397 lower annual net price

Earnings
$64,153
Debt
$16,433
Annual net price
$14,091
View outcomes →
Bothell, WA

University of Washington-Bothell Campus

$1,742 higher earnings · $8,567 less debt · $12,169 lower annual net price

Earnings
$64,153
Debt
$16,433
Annual net price
$12,319
View outcomes →
Tacoma, WA

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

$1,742 higher earnings · $8,567 less debt · $14,325 lower annual net price

Earnings
$64,153
Debt
$16,433
Annual net price
$10,163
View outcomes →
Spokane, WA

Gonzaga University

$11,147 higher earnings · $1,625 less debt

Earnings
$73,558
Debt
$23,375
Annual net price
$35,119
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

29 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 →