Best Communication and Media Studies Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
32
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$191,591
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$12,890
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Saddleback College
Grad rate: 44.4% |
CA | +$162,456 | $51,302 | $11,792 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Moorpark College
Grad rate: 40.2% |
CA | +$108,750 | $48,406 | $9,685 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Suffolk County Community College
Grad rate: 24.1% |
NY | +$36,588 | $44,992 | $11,626 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Santa Rosa Junior College
Grad rate: 32.2% |
CA | -$24,998 | $42,115 | $13,649 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
County College of Morris
Grad rate: 34.0% |
NJ | -$30,408 | $42,550 | $14,629 | $9,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Monroe Community College
Grad rate: 21.8% |
NY | -$60,514 | $41,052 | $14,196 | $9,750 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Orange Coast College
Grad rate: 45.2% |
CA | -$68,342 | $39,902 | $13,191 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Cerritos College
Grad rate: 29.1% |
CA | -$74,878 | $39,097 | $8,409 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Santa Monica College
Grad rate: 34.0% |
CA | -$80,926 | $39,089 | $11,353 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Montgomery County Community College
Grad rate: 23.2% |
PA | -$97,202 | $39,407 | $14,571 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Citrus College
Grad rate: 42.8% |
CA | -$108,764 | $37,803 | $12,412 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Golden West College
Grad rate: 43.2% |
CA | -$110,512 | $37,695 | $12,206 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Delaware County Community College
Grad rate: 20.2% |
PA | -$128,212 | $37,366 | $12,957 | $7,125 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
College of the Canyons
Grad rate: 43.4% |
CA | -$165,626 | $34,743 | $10,243 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Amarillo College
Grad rate: 28.9% |
TX | -$167,082 | $34,787 | $11,411 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Finger Lakes Community College
Grad rate: 28.6% |
NY | -$167,482 | $35,567 | $19,411 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Central New Mexico Community College
Grad rate: 28.2% |
NM | -$255,492 | $30,316 | $10,906 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Dutchess Community College
Grad rate: 28.2% |
NY | -$260,665 | $31,280 | $15,709 | $10,998 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Fresno City College
Grad rate: 25.8% |
CA | -$274,646 | $29,474 | $12,063 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Salt Lake Community College
Grad rate: 31.8% |
UT | -$278,005 | $30,213 | $12,884 | $12,220 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Mt San Antonio College
Grad rate: 39.6% |
CA | -$280,414 | $29,187 | $12,077 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Ventura College
Grad rate: 40.8% |
CA | -$306,104 | $27,671 | $9,762 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Sinclair Community College
Grad rate: 31.2% |
OH | -$311,666 | $28,261 | $10,381 | $11,944 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
San Diego Mesa College
Grad rate: 33.8% |
CA | -$312,928 | $27,650 | $12,964 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
Grad rate: 24.9% |
NY | -$325,202 | $27,542 | $12,187 | $8,643 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Jamestown Community College
Grad rate: 34.5% |
NY | -$341,000 | $27,490 | $17,300 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Nassau Community College
Grad rate: 22.2% |
NY | -$343,944 | $26,936 | $13,907 | $11,000 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey
Grad rate: 35.0% |
NJ | -$351,726 | $26,285 | $13,752 | $7,350 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
Grad rate: 27.1% |
NY | -$352,583 | $26,262 | $13,167 | $8,511 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Community College of Philadelphia
Grad rate: 17.7% |
PA | -$367,620 | $26,471 | $19,070 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Pasadena City College
Grad rate: 41.1% |
CA | -$383,612 | $24,036 | $12,166 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Erie Community College
Grad rate: 25.6% |
NY | -$408,180 | $23,581 | $12,475 | $11,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Communication and Media Studies Degrees by State
Browse Communication and Media Studies programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.