Bachelor's · Orangeburg, South Carolina
Is Communication and Media Studies at South Carolina State University worth it?
Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 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
- $37,008
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- $36,075
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- Not enough borrowers to report
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $81k (likely $76k – $109k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- −$445 a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in SC
- 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
- −$279k (likely −$358k – −$215k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- −$310k (likely −$418k – −$193k)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 32%
- 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
Other majors at South Carolina State University
- Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral)$86,481
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$66,821
- Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)$63,129
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's)$55,513
- Business/Commerce, General (Master's)$54,848
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's)$50,497
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's)$48,628
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's)$48,515
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)$48,108
- Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's)$45,061
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's)$41,075
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$40,050
Communication and Media Studies at other schools in South Carolina
- Furman University$64,014
- College of Charleston$58,371
- University of South Carolina Aiken$58,203
- University of South Carolina-Columbia$53,247
- Coastal Carolina University$51,010
- Charleston Southern University$50,824
- University of South Carolina Beaufort$49,545
- Winthrop University$48,303
- Francis Marion University$46,669
- University of South Carolina-Upstate$45,298