Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Communication and Media Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI · 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 close to the same-degree benchmark.

$662 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
46.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−55% · 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$55,697 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.

+35%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$38,040$51,174
269Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
266Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
340Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
416Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$21,188Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
0Recent 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.

595Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
97Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
269Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
354Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,491Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$55,697$19,206 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 25 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$15,014

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

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$55,697

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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$15,014Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$22,756Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE90.7%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE49.3%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.

$38,040Year 1
$55,697Year 4
$51,174Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.9% 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$4,641
Estimated loan payment$276
416borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$55,697 vs. $56,359

$662 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$113,980 median wageWI estimate · 1,010 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,780 median wageWI estimate · 640 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$64,370 median wageWI estimate · 710 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Specialists$67,240 median wageWI estimate · 4,410 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$64,270 median wageWI estimate · 1,510 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$57,530 median wageWI estimate · 740 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$40,630 median wageWI estimate · 580 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$123,090 median wageWI estimate · 400 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$69,780 median wageWI estimate · 80 jobs · 27-3099+3.9% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFundraisers$65,880 median wageWI estimate · 2,130 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k 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.

Oshkosh, WI

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

$8,406 higher earnings · $709 lower annual net price

Earnings
$64,103
Debt
$26,534
Annual net price
$14,305
View outcomes →
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin-Madison

$5,573 higher earnings · $2,750 less debt

Earnings
$61,270
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$17,354
View outcomes →
Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University

$4,785 higher earnings · $2,469 less debt

Earnings
$60,482
Debt
$23,531
Annual net price
$31,487
View outcomes →
Eau Claire, WI

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

$2,346 higher earnings · $3,270 less debt

Earnings
$58,043
Debt
$22,730
Annual net price
$16,550
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

340 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 →