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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree at West Virginia State University

Institute, WV · 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 below similar programs.

$18,493 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
81.3% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−132% · 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$37,866 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.

+36%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$26,351 → $35,928
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
24Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
32Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
28Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-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.

59Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
40Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
31Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
27.8%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers
33Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,604Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$37,866$5,262 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$11,139

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

02 · BORROWING$30,788

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$37,866

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$326/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$11,139Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,772Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE96.0%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE39.2%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.

$26,351Year 1
$37,866Year 4
$35,928Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

10.3% 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$3,156
Estimated loan payment$326
28borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$37,866 vs. $56,359

$18,493 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$82,380 median wageWV estimate · 70 jobs · 11-2032$62,390–$103,570 middle 50% of WV wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$77,880 median wageWV estimate · 110 jobs · 25-1122$61,660–$78,950 middle 50% of WV wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$64,410 median wageWV estimate · 110 jobs · 27-3043$47,530–$72,340 middle 50% of WV wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$56,730 median wageWV estimate · 350 jobs · 27-3031$47,740–$72,240 middle 50% of WV wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$56,630 median wageWV estimate · 260 jobs · 27-3041$39,490–$82,980 middle 50% of WV wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$35,400 median wageWV estimate · 130 jobs · 27-3011$22,670–$37,980 middle 50% of WV wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$35,280 median wageWV estimate · 190 jobs · 27-3023$30,340–$45,250 middle 50% of WV wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$74,400 median wageWV estimate · 100 jobs · 11-2033$60,520–$102,950 middle 50% of WV wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$73,620 median wageU.S. estimate · 19,590 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$54,760 median wageWV estimate · 260 jobs · 13-1131$44,080–$64,580 middle 50% of WV 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
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.

Shepherdstown, WV

Shepherd University

$12,487 higher earnings · $11,230 less debt

Earnings
$50,353
Debt
$19,558
Annual net price
$11,363
View outcomes →
New York, NY

CUNY City College

$32,082 higher earnings · $14,961 less debt · $7,363 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,948
Debt
$15,827
Annual net price
$3,776
View outcomes →
Manchester, NH

University of New Hampshire at Manchester

$31,232 higher earnings · $3,788 less debt · $1,147 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,098
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$9,992
View outcomes →
Manchester, NH

University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online

$31,232 higher earnings · $3,788 less debt · $275 lower annual net price

Earnings
$69,098
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$10,864
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

32 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.

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