Bachelor's · Altoona, Pennsylvania
Is Communication and Media Studies at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona worth it?
High confidence High confidence: 100+ graduates behind the earnings figures.
The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans
Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 6.8 years.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- $48,812
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- $59,619
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- $22,488
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $92k (likely $92k – $121k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- $20k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in PA
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- 6.8 years (likely 5.8–8.4)
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- −$80k (likely −$157k – −$36k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- $179k (likely $65k – $302k)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 16%
- Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in
- not reported / ≤ 5%
- NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20
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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$120,729
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Undergraduate certificate)$108,264
- Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Undergraduate certificate)$102,874
- Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)$98,637
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Undergraduate certificate)$93,527
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)$91,032
- Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)$88,192
- Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)$81,835
- Management Information Systems and Services (Undergraduate certificate)$81,794
- Civil Engineering (Bachelor's)$81,403
- Mathematics (Bachelor's)$77,336
- Engineering, General (Undergraduate certificate)$74,477
Communication and Media Studies at other schools in Pennsylvania
- University of Pennsylvania$114,266
- Villanova University$81,497
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$69,573
- Washington & Jefferson College$68,066
- La Salle University$61,347
- Ursinus College$61,017
- Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia$59,929
- Muhlenberg College$58,473
- Eastern University$58,371
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College$55,505