Communication and Media Studies at Western Carolina University
NC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 09.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Communication and Media Studies degree from Western Carolina University earn a median salary of $48,708 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $49,804. The degree typically pays for itself in 13.1 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
$37,166
Typical Career
$48,708
Top Performers
$60,951
Estimated break-even: 13.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$325
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,059. Most students can comfortably afford about a $325 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in North Carolina buys what costs $0.98 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, 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
$49,804
Nominal: $48,708 in North Carolina (COL 97.8% of national avg) · 2.2% 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 | $24,292 | $33,191 | $42,862 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $37,166 | $48,708 | $60,951 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $45,192 | $59,265 | $78,977 |
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 $48,708 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NC, which has a cost-of-living index of 97.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $48,708 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9780)
= $49,804 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter include Health Care & Social Assistance (19.9%), Educational Services (19.6%), and Public Administration (12.0%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 13.1 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing this degree appears reasonable. Students should weigh these factors carefully when considering their long-term career prospects in relation to their educational investment.
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 Western Carolina 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.