Communication and Media Studies at Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL · Bachelor's Degree · about 95 graduates a year
Northern Illinois University graduates in communication and media studies earn 2% less than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 43% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Northern Illinois University Compares for Communication and Media Studies
All 660 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 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | $114,266 | $116,210 | #1 | $53,022 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | $93,541 | $91,903 | #2 | $52,210 |
| 3 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $88,463 | $84,198 | #4 | $62,182 |
| 4 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | $84,206 | $76,622 | #11 | $51,720 |
| 5 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA | $83,586 | $73,606 | #15 | $55,162 |
| 6 | Villanova University Villanova, PA | $81,497 | $82,883 | #7 | $52,294 |
| 7 | Boston University Boston, MA | $80,306 | $70,718 | #30 | $47,349 |
| 8 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | $80,191 | $70,617 | #31 | $47,465 |
| 9 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston, MA | $80,191 | $70,617 | #32 | $47,465 |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | $79,648 | $83,980 | #5 | $50,556 |
| … | |||||
| 300 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY | $55,182 | $52,522 | #391 | $29,054 |
| 301 | Hope College Holland, MI | $55,166 | $58,166 | #215 | $38,956 |
| 302 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI | $55,152 | $57,388 | #230 | $39,367 |
| 303 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL | $55,109 | $54,144 | #339 | $38,490 |
| 304 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph, MO | $55,059 | $59,035 | #189 | — |
| 305 | St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN | $55,058 | $52,592 | #389 | $44,606 |
| 306 | Crown College Saint Bonifacius, MN | $54,958 | $52,497 | #393 | — |
Other Majors at Northern Illinois University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Northern Illinois University communication and media studies graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $38,490 one year after graduating and $55,109 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Northern Illinois University rank for communication and media studies?
Among 660 colleges reporting earnings for communication and media studies graduates, Northern Illinois University ranks #303 by median pay four years after graduation, and #339 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is communication and media studies at Northern Illinois University worth it?
Its graduates earn 2% less than the national median for communication and media studies ($56,359), and the median federal debt at graduation is $23,812.
← All data for Northern Illinois University · 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.