Communication and Media Studies, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Communication and Media Studies, Other.: The DTI for this program is 71.3%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Communication and Media Studies, Other., compare your expected starting salary (currently $34116) to the average debt ($24316) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Communication and Media Studies, Other.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 71.3%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Communication and Media Studies, Other., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($34116) against the typical student debt ($24316), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
If you’re thinking about Communication and Media Studies, Other., you’re looking at a field that’s both challenging and rewarding. Typical starting salaries are around $34116, with grads carrying about $24316 in student loans and a debt-to-income ratio of 0.71—which is manageable for most.
Each year, over 56620 students complete this major, so you’ll have plenty of peers to connect with. Whether you’re motivated by salary, job outlook, or the chance to build something meaningful, Communication and Media Studies, Other. can help you get there. Make the most of your college years by seeking out hands-on experiences and building your network.
Degree Overview
Communication and Media Studies, Other (CIP 09.0199) is a multi-disciplinary field that explores how information is created, transmitted, and received across various cultural and technological landscapes. This "Other" designation is used for innovative programs that blend media theory, sociology, and digital technology to study the profound impact of communication on human behavior, politics, and global society.
This degree is ideal for students who are "big-picture" thinkers. It is a path for those who aren't just interested in making media, but in understanding how media makes us. It prepares graduates to navigate a world where the lines between reality and digital representation are increasingly blurred.
What Is a Communication and Media Studies (Other) Degree?
A Communication and Media Studies (Other) degree focuses on the critical analysis of media systems and their role in shaping public consciousness. Because it falls into the "Other" category, these programs often venture into niche areas such as ludology (the study of games), algorithmic bias, fan culture, or media archaeology. It is less about "how to use a camera" and more about "the social consequences of everyone having a camera in their pocket."
Schools offer this degree to:
- Analyze the power dynamics of global media conglomerates
- Study how digital platforms influence identity, gender, and race
- Explore the psychological effects of "persuasive design" in apps and social media
- Develop specialists who can advise organizations on the ethical use of communication technologies
What Will You Learn?
Students learn to deconstruct messages, looking past the surface to see the underlying intent, cultural context, and technological "delivery system."
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Conduct Qualitative and Quantitative research to track how ideas spread through society
- Critically analyze film, television, and digital content for hidden biases or themes
- Write high-level research papers and policy briefs on media issues
- Understand the "Political Economy of Media"—who owns the channels and why it matters
- Apply "Semiotic Analysis" to decode the symbols and signs used in advertising and propaganda
- Evaluate the impact of emerging tech (like VR or AI) on human social interaction
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is often highly academic and philosophical:
- Media Psychology: How our brains process digital information and screen time.
- Digital Cultures: The study of online communities, memes, and internet subcultures.
- Visual Rhetoric: How images and symbols are used to argue or persuade.
- Global Media Systems: Comparing how different countries regulate and use media.
- Popular Culture Studies: The role of movies, music, and fashion in defining "truth."
- Technological Determinism: The theory that technology itself shapes how a society thinks.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Because this degree teaches high-level critical thinking and research, graduates are prepared for roles that require a deep understanding of audience behavior.
Common job roles include:
- Media Researcher/Analyst: Helping companies understand how their content affects people.
- Brand Consultant: Advising companies on how to align their message with cultural trends.
- Policy Analyst: Working for the government or think tanks on media regulation and digital rights.
- Digital Ethnographer: Studying online user behavior to help design better platforms.
- Journalism Critic: Analyzing the performance and ethics of news organizations.
- Community Manager: Overseeing the health and culture of large online groups.
Where Can You Work?
Media studies professionals are valuable to any organization that relies on understanding social trends:
- Market Research Firms: Predicting what the "next big thing" will be in culture.
- Non-Profit and Advocacy Groups: Designing campaigns to change social attitudes or behaviors.
- Tech Companies: Working in "User Experience" or "Trust and Safety" departments.
- Higher Education: Working as researchers, professors, or academic advisors.
- Public Relations Agencies: Using cultural insights to help clients connect with specific audiences.
How Much Can You Earn?
Salaries vary depending on whether you enter the commercial sector or stay in academia/non-profit work.
- Market Research Analysts: Median annual salary of approximately $70,000–$85,000.
- Communications Consultants: Salaries typically range from $75,000 to $115,000.
- Public Relations Specialists: Median annual salary of around $67,000.
- Post-Secondary Teachers (Media): Median annual salary of approximately $80,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is intellectual and analytical. You will be required to read dense sociological and philosophical texts and write long, well-argued papers. It is not about memorizing facts, but about developing a critical lens through which to see the world. You must be comfortable with "gray areas" and complex questions that do not have easy answers.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Find yourself constantly analyzing the movies you watch or the social media you scroll
- Are fascinated by "trends" and why certain ideas become popular
- Enjoy reading, writing, and debating big ideas
- Are interested in the intersection of technology and human rights
- Want a career that allows you to be a "professional observer" of society
How to Prepare in High School
- Take classes in Sociology, Psychology, History, and English Literature
- Join a debate team or a school club that discusses current events
- Practice "media fasting"—spend a day without tech and write about how it changes your mood
- Follow media critics and researchers on social media to see how they analyze content
- Work on your writing skills; being able to articulate complex ideas is your primary "tool" in this field
A relentless curiosity about how information shapes our world is the core requirement for success in this versatile and evolving field.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor