Communications & Media Majors — ROI Rankings (2026)

16 communications & media majors across 1,890 school-major combinations analyzed for debt, earnings, and job market outlook.

Majors

58/100

Avg ROI Score

$26K

Avg Median Debt

$58K

Avg Year 1 Earnings

Communications & Media Majors by Average ROI

#	Major	Avg ROI Score	Avg Debt	Avg Earnings (1yr)	Schools
1	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$23,127	$95,000	58
2	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	88/100	$24,936	$95,000	28
3	Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	78/100	$21,565	$92,000	156
4	Business/Corporate Communications	69/100	$25,397	$65,000	21
5	Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	66/100	$29,021	$62,000	132
6	Communication and Media Studies	53/100	$26,556	$52,000	831
7	Radio, Television, and Digital Communication	53/100	$26,387	$52,000	163
8	Journalism	53/100	$26,294	$52,000	116
9	Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	53/100	$26,544	$52,000	204
10	Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other	53/100	$27,511	$52,000	24
11	Communications Technologies, Other	53/100	$24,992	$48,000	1
12	Graphic Communications	52/100	$26,572	$48,000	78
13	Communications Technologies/Technicians	52/100	$27,067	$48,000	3
14	Audiovisual Communications Technologies	51/100	$28,545	$48,000	20
15	Educational/Instructional Media Design	47/100	$26,809	$45,000	3
16	Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management	44/100	$28,001	$42,000	52

Top 50 Communications & Media Programs by ROI

#	School	Major	ROI Score	Debt	Earnings (1yr)	Verdict
1	Eastern Washington University	Computer Software and Media Applications	97/100	$11,346	$95,000	STRONG BUY
2	Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	96/100	$13,114	$95,000	STRONG BUY
3	Atlantic University	Computer Software and Media Applications	95/100	$13,491	$95,000	STRONG BUY
4	Wellesley College	Computer Software and Media Applications	94/100	$14,899	$95,000	STRONG BUY
5	Wilmington University	Computer Software and Media Applications	94/100	$15,616	$95,000	STRONG BUY
6	CUNY New York City College of Technology	Computer Software and Media Applications	92/100	$18,554	$95,000	STRONG BUY
7	Dewey University-Hato Rey	Computer Software and Media Applications	92/100	$18,166	$95,000	STRONG BUY
8	Neumont College of Computer Science	Computer Software and Media Applications	92/100	$18,465	$95,000	STRONG BUY
9	Western Governors University	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	92/100	$19,142	$95,000	STRONG BUY
10	Franklin University	Computer Software and Media Applications	91/100	$19,207	$95,000	STRONG BUY
11	Hampshire College	Computer Software and Media Applications	91/100	$19,819	$95,000	STRONG BUY
12	University of Washington-Bothell Campus	Computer Software and Media Applications	91/100	$19,176	$95,000	STRONG BUY
13	University of Wisconsin-Stout	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	91/100	$20,692	$95,000	STRONG BUY
14	Western Governors University	Computer Software and Media Applications	91/100	$19,142	$95,000	STRONG BUY
15	Kean University	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	90/100	$21,838	$95,000	STRONG BUY
16	New York Institute of Technology	Computer Software and Media Applications	90/100	$21,199	$95,000	STRONG BUY
17	Pennsylvania College of Technology	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	90/100	$22,080	$95,000	STRONG BUY
18	Purdue University-Main Campus	Computer Software and Media Applications	90/100	$20,397	$95,000	STRONG BUY
19	Rochester Institute of Technology	Computer Software and Media Applications	90/100	$21,032	$95,000	STRONG BUY
20	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	90/100	$21,209	$95,000	STRONG BUY
21	University of Wisconsin-Stout	Computer Software and Media Applications	90/100	$20,692	$95,000	STRONG BUY
22	Wentworth Institute of Technology	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	90/100	$21,301	$95,000	STRONG BUY
23	Beacon College	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$22,035	$95,000	STRONG BUY
24	Bellevue College	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$21,838	$95,000	STRONG BUY
25	California Institute of the Arts	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$22,664	$95,000	STRONG BUY
26	Capitol Technology University	Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	89/100	$4,080	$92,000	STRONG BUY
27	College for Creative Studies	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$22,250	$95,000	STRONG BUY
28	Dakota State University	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$22,042	$95,000	STRONG BUY
29	Emmanuel University	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$21,369	$95,000	STRONG BUY
30	Five Towns College	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$21,627	$95,000	STRONG BUY
31	Indiana Institute of Technology	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	89/100	$22,913	$95,000	STRONG BUY
32	Rider University	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$22,233	$95,000	STRONG BUY
33	Stevenson University	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	89/100	$22,246	$95,000	STRONG BUY
34	The New School	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$21,573	$95,000	STRONG BUY
35	University of Arkansas-Fort Smith	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$21,434	$95,000	STRONG BUY
36	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Computer Software and Media Applications	89/100	$21,835	$95,000	STRONG BUY
37	Art Center College of Design	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$22,923	$95,000	STRONG BUY
38	Berklee College of Music	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$22,940	$95,000	STRONG BUY
39	Capella University	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	88/100	$24,480	$95,000	STRONG BUY
40	Champlain College	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$23,824	$95,000	STRONG BUY
41	DeVry University-Illinois	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	88/100	$24,885	$95,000	STRONG BUY
42	DeVry University-New Jersey	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$23,470	$95,000	STRONG BUY
43	DigiPen Institute of Technology	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$23,460	$95,000	STRONG BUY
44	Hodges University	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	88/100	$24,582	$95,000	STRONG BUY
45	Indiana Institute of Technology	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$22,913	$95,000	STRONG BUY
46	Johnson & Wales University-Providence	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$22,862	$95,000	STRONG BUY
47	Lindenwood University	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$23,338	$95,000	STRONG BUY
48	Miles College	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	88/100	$24,320	$95,000	STRONG BUY
49	Rhode Island School of Design	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$23,021	$95,000	STRONG BUY
50	School of Visual Arts	Computer Software and Media Applications	88/100	$23,310	$95,000	STRONG BUY

Browse by Category

STEM Business Healthcare Arts & Humanities Social Sciences Education Communications & Media Agriculture & Environment Law & Public Policy Trades & Technology

Frequently Asked Questions

CollegeROI tracks 16 communications & media majors across 1,890 school-major combinations with detailed debt and earnings data.

The average ROI Score for communications & media programs is 58/100. Average median debt is $26K with average first-year earnings of $58K.

Among communications & media majors, Computer Software and Media Applications has the highest average ROI Score at 88/100. The best individual program is Eastern Washington University in Computer Software and Media Applications with a score of 97/100.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Last updated: March 2026