Communication and Media Studies at California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Master's Degree · about 21 graduates a year
California State University-Los Angeles graduates in communication and media studies earn 16% less than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 50% of one year’s pay at that point.
How California State University-Los Angeles Compares for Communication and Media Studies
All 61 colleges reporting communication and media studies earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $120,003 | $114,218 | #1 | $93,452 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | $116,101 | $114,068 | #2 | $87,012 |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | $107,409 | $94,264 | #4 | $82,754 |
| 4 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | $97,115 | $85,520 | #9 | $58,317 |
| 5 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston, MA | $97,115 | $85,520 | #10 | $58,317 |
| 6 | American University Washington, DC | $94,424 | $82,740 | #12 | $68,299 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | $91,873 | $83,598 | #11 | $68,587 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | $88,174 | $94,623 | #3 | $56,634 |
| 9 | Wayne State University Detroit, MI | $87,918 | $92,699 | #5 | $56,521 |
| 10 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | $86,823 | $92,412 | #6 | $58,996 |
| … | |||||
| 48 | California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA | $60,784 | $55,309 | #54 | $39,920 |
| 49 | Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN | $60,662 | $57,945 | #52 | — |
| 50 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Portales, NM | $60,246 | $69,755 | #34 | $48,543 |
| 51 | California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $60,235 | $54,810 | #56 | — |
| 52 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO | $59,861 | $64,184 | #42 | — |
| 53 | Boston University Boston, MA | $59,519 | $52,413 | #58 | $34,000 |
| 54 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO | $58,397 | $54,613 | #57 | — |
Other Majors at California State University-Los Angeles by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $137,184 | $145,897 | #73 of 432 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $126,611 | $90,686 | #131 of 861 |
| Civil Engineering | $120,651 | — | #2 of 81 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $118,058 | $102,356 | #46 of 62 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $104,208 | $83,983 | #1 of 280 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $101,094 | $85,836 | #1 of 243 |
| Security Science and Technology | $92,683 | $66,598 | #15 of 34 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $90,351 | $69,402 | #102 of 211 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | $88,659 | $67,075 | #4 of 302 |
| Education | $84,668 | $69,882 | #13 of 214 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $82,455 | — | #2 of 22 |
| Social Work | $78,135 | $64,869 | #16 of 279 |
| Public Administration | $72,670 | $66,365 | #154 of 243 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | $63,878 | $62,266 | #66 of 190 |
| English Language and Literature | $62,904 | — | #17 of 43 |
| Anthropology | — | $53,441 | — |
| Biology | — | $52,845 | — |
| History | — | $52,144 | — |
| Sociology | — | $50,577 | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts | — | $22,247 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do California State University-Los Angeles communication and media studies graduates make?
Graduates earn $60,235 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does California State University-Los Angeles rank for communication and media studies?
Among 61 colleges reporting earnings for communication and media studies graduates, California State University-Los Angeles ranks #51 by median pay four years after graduation, and #56 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is communication and media studies at California State University-Los Angeles worth it?
Its graduates earn 16% less than the national median for communication and media studies ($71,953), and the median federal debt at graduation is $30,250.
← All data for California State University-Los Angeles · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.