Communications and Media
Communication & Journalism · federal classification: Communication and Media Studies
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $46,616 | $39,744 to $51,972 | 6 | 83% |
| Associate's Degree | $44,143 | $37,303 to $49,070 | 53 | 81% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $53,615 | $47,475 to $59,756 | 693 | 96% |
| Master's Degree | $65,565 | $57,553 to $76,805 | 78 | 99% |
| Doctoral Degree | $76,868 | $75,616 to $81,331 | 5 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +3% (2024 to 2034), about 83,300 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialists | $69,780 | +4.8% | 27,600 |
| Writers and Authors | $72,270 | +3.6% | 13,400 |
| Fundraisers | $66,490 | +4.3% | 10,200 |
| Editors | $75,260 | +0.6% | 9,800 |
| Public Relations Managers | $138,520 | +5% | 6,600 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $60,280 | -3.9% | 4,100 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.