CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Houston, Texas

Is Communication and Media Studies at University of Houston-Clear Lake worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 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 5.1 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$46,041
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$53,535
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$16,732
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$50k (likely $50k – $70k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$17k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in TX
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
5.1 years (likely 3.6–7.6)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
−$63k (likely −$145k – $16k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$155k (likely $2k – $323k)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
45%
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 Houston-Clear Lake

Communication and Media Studies at other schools in Texas