U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 31 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 33% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,816. College Scorecard.
CWU Communications: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Communications nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses CWU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $11,846 | $52,478 | 3.2 years |
| $30–48k | $13,942 | $61,763 | 3.7 years |
| $48–75k | $16,022 | $70,977 | 4.3 years |
| $75–110k | $21,682 | $96,051 | 5.8 years |
| $110k+ | $26,719 | $118,365 | 7.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (32% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Communications graduates 4 years after graduating ($56,862) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,643 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Communications at Washington colleges
Every Washington college we cover that reports Communications graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gonzaga University | $73,558 | $23,375 | $35,119 | 86% |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $64,153 | $16,433 | $14,091 | 85% |
| 3 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | $64,153 | $16,433 | $12,319 | 65% |
| 4 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | $64,153 | $16,433 | $10,163 | 63% |
| 5 | Seattle Pacific University | $62,411 | $25,000 | $24,488 | 62% |
| 6 | Washington State University | $62,406 | — | $14,971 | 61% |
| 7 | University of Puget Sound | $61,904 | $27,000 | $38,394 | 68% |
| 8 | Seattle University | $57,599 | $19,500 | $34,662 | 76% |
| 9 | Pacific Lutheran University | $57,317 | $25,499 | $19,589 | 69% |
| 10 | Central Washington University | $56,862 | $18,572 | $18,476 | 54% |
| 11 | Western Washington University | $56,415 | $17,875 | $21,193 | 65% |
| 12 | Whitworth University | $56,304 | $21,500 | $26,534 | 71% |
| 13 | Eastern Washington University | $50,969 | $25,000 | $13,886 | 43% |
5 more Washington colleges offer Communications but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Communications graduates
Public relations specialist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +1.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Fundraisers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Editors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -1.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at CWU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CWU
- Acceptance rate: 91% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 54% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $61,580
- Full cost breakdown · all 113 majors · overview
Related majors at CWU
- Public Relations and Advertising$66,538
- Journalism—
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$50,318
- Writing$41,971
CWU Communications questions
How much do CWU Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of Central Washington University earn a median $56,862 four years after graduating and $35,820 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do CWU Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of Central Washington University is $18,572, about 33% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is CWU a good school for Communications in Washington?
On pay, Communications graduates of Central Washington University earn $56,862 four years out, $5,042 below the median for the same major across 13 Washington colleges ($61,904) and $2,579 above the U.S. median ($54,283). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does CWU rank for Communications in Washington?
Of 13 Washington colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, Central Washington University ranks 10th. The highest is Gonzaga University at $73,558.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $87,470 in Washington and $74,750 nationally. Others include fundraisers and editors.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Central Washington University Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/central-washington-university/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).