Communication and Media Studies at Metropolitan State University
MN · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 09.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Communication and Media Studies degree from Metropolitan State University earn a median salary of $62,349 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $66,258. The degree typically pays for itself in 7.6 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$45,875
Typical Career
$62,349
Top Performers
$81,449
Estimated break-even: 7.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$416
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,196. Most students can comfortably afford about a $416 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.6x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Minnesota buys what costs $0.94 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration, Finance & Insurance.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$66,258
Nominal: $62,349 in Minnesota (COL 94.1% of national avg) · 6.3% 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 | $35,124 | $48,087 | $64,209 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $45,875 | $62,349 | $81,449 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $50,441 | $73,728 | $101,595 |
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 $62,349 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MN, which has a cost-of-living index of 94.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $62,349 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9410)
= $66,258 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (24.9%), Public Administration (12.3%), and Finance & Insurance (9.9%), suggesting a diverse range of career opportunities. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 7.6 years, indicating that the investment in a degree may yield significant returns over time. Overall, the data suggests a favorable return on investment for students pursuing this degree, particularly in sectors that are growing and offer stable employment.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Communication and Media Studies degree at Metropolitan State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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.