Bachelor's · Bluffton, South Carolina
Is Communication and Media Studies at University of South Carolina Beaufort worth it?
Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.
The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans
Pays back slowly: graduates typically recover the cost in about 8.3 years.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- $37,338
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- $53,217
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- $21,500
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $88k (likely $88k – $111k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- $17k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in SC
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- 8.3 years (likely 5.6–13.8)
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- −$114k (likely −$206k – −$11k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- $105k (likely −$78k – $345k)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 39%
- 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 University of South Carolina Beaufort
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)$70,311
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)$56,852
- Psychology, General (Bachelor's)$50,776
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's)$47,705
- Hospitality Administration/Management (Bachelor's)$45,953
- Biology, General (Bachelor's)$45,680
- Social Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$44,888
- Public Health (Bachelor's)$39,563
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's)$38,176
- Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's)$21,837
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
- Winthrop University$48,303
- Francis Marion University$46,669
- University of South Carolina-Upstate$45,298
- Columbia College$44,280