Bachelor's · Costa Mesa, California
Is Communication and Media Studies at Vanguard University of Southern California worth it?
Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.
The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans
Graduates typically don't earn back the cost within 20 years, compared with the no-degree baseline.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- $41,822
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- Not enough graduates to report
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- $23,250
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $99k (likely $99k – $99k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- $4k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in CA
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- Not within 20 years in most scenarios
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- −$245k (likely −$316k – −$182k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- −$200k (likely −$340k – −$65k)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 55%
- Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Change income, residency or loans Compare Communication and Media Studies at other schools
🎬 Getting ready in high school
Students heading toward media & storytelling majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.
AP classes
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP Seminar
IB Higher Level
- Language A: Literature HL or Language and Literature HL
- Film HL
Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.
Other majors at Vanguard University of Southern California
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's)$130,059
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)$102,239
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's)$75,686
- Curriculum and Instruction (Master's)$66,793
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)$62,957
- Psychology, General (Bachelor's)$47,582
- Sociology (Bachelor's)$43,317
- Biology, General (Bachelor's)$36,963
- Religion/Religious Studies (Bachelor's)$33,020
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's)$30,101
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's)$25,181
Communication and Media Studies at other schools in California
- Santa Clara University$84,206
- Northeastern University Oakland$80,191
- University of Southern California$75,864
- University of California-Berkeley$75,612
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$75,223
- Chapman University$73,461
- University of California-Santa Barbara$72,976
- University of California-Davis$72,778
- Loyola Marymount University$69,144
- University of San Diego$68,913