U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 123 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 34% 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 $24,018. College Scorecard.
ISU 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 ISU'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 | $10,582 | $45,714 | 2.2 years |
| $30–48k | $11,506 | $49,706 | 2.4 years |
| $48–75k | $15,463 | $66,800 | 3.3 years |
| $75–110k | $19,605 | $84,694 | 4.1 years |
| $110k+ | $22,496 | $97,183 | 4.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (54% 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 ($57,110) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $20,449 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 Iowa colleges
Every Iowa 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 | University of Iowa | $60,737 | $25,814 | $22,531 | 75% |
| 2 | Iowa State University | $57,110 | $19,425 | $18,589 | 75% |
| 3 | University of Northern Iowa | $53,506 | $19,387 | $15,901 | 68% |
| 4 | Luther College | $52,905 | $27,000 | $23,097 | 71% |
| 5 | Central College | $51,671 | — | $23,377 | 66% |
| 6 | University of Dubuque | $48,537 | — | $23,386 | 40% |
| 7 | Wartburg College | $48,433 | $26,750 | $32,908 | 64% |
| 8 | Loras College | $44,741 | $25,166 | $20,716 | 68% |
13 more Iowa 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 ISU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ISU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,386
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at ISU
- Public Relations and Advertising$62,965
- Journalism$53,633
- Writing$69,673
ISU Communications questions
How much do ISU Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of Iowa State University earn a median $57,110 four years after graduating and $40,497 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do ISU Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of Iowa State University is $19,425, about 34% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is ISU a good school for Communications in Iowa?
On pay, Communications graduates of Iowa State University earn $57,110 four years out, $4,822 above the median for the same major across 8 Iowa colleges ($52,288) and $2,827 above the U.S. median ($54,283). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does ISU rank for Communications in Iowa?
Of 8 Iowa colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, Iowa State University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Iowa at $60,737.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $62,970 in the Ames, IA area 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: “Iowa State University Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/iowa-state-university/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).