Communication and Media Studies at Montana State University - Billings
MT · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 09.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Communication and Media Studies degree from Montana State University - Billings earn a median salary of $44,319 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $42,573. The degree typically pays for itself in 13.6 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
$31,416
Typical Career
$44,319
Top Performers
$62,605
Estimated break-even: 13.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$295
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,693. Most students can comfortably afford about a $295 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Montana buys what costs $1.04 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration.
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
$42,573
Nominal: $44,319 in Montana (COL 104.1% of national avg) · 3.9% lower 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 | $25,555 | $31,996 | $40,266 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $31,416 | $44,319 | $62,605 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $42,677 | $61,036 | $77,901 |
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 $44,319 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MT, which has a cost-of-living index of 104.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $44,319 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0410)
= $42,573 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program prepares students for diverse career paths, with the top industries being Educational Services (25.1%), Health Care & Social Assistance (20.3%), and Public Administration (9.5%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 13.6 years, indicating a moderate return on investment. Overall, while the earnings potential is promising, students should consider the time required to recoup their educational investment relative to the local economic landscape.
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 Montana State University - Billings 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.