Communication and Media Studies at Laramie County Community College
WY · Associate's Degree · CIP 09.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Communication and Media Studies degree from Laramie County Community College earn a median salary of $41,244 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in WY, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $44,301. The degree typically pays for itself in 17.6 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$31,537
Typical Career
$41,244
Top Performers
$53,909
Estimated break-even: 17.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$275
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,437. Most students can comfortably afford about a $275 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Wyoming buys what costs $0.93 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$44,301
Nominal: $41,244 in Wyoming (COL 93.1% of national avg) · 7.4% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $19,806 | $31,485 | $44,206 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $31,537 | $41,244 | $53,909 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $37,247 | $54,051 | $74,301 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $41,244 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in WY, which has a cost-of-living index of 93.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $41,244 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9310)
= $44,301 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program's graduates predominantly enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, which account for 51.3% and 36.0% of employment, respectively, alongside a notable presence in Construction at 26.1%. The estimated break-even point for pursuing this degree versus a high-school-only path is approximately 17.6 years. This suggests that while the initial investment in education may take time to recoup, the long-term benefits in terms of career opportunities and salary growth could provide a favorable return on investment for students.
Compare with Another School
See how the Communication and Media Studies degree at Laramie County Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Communication and Media Studies at Laramie County Community College.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Laramie County Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.