U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 20 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 48% 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 $22,810. College Scorecard.
McNeese State University 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 McNeese State University'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 | $10,482 | $46,330 | 3.2 years |
| $30–48k | $11,067 | $48,916 | 3.3 years |
| $48–75k | $11,640 | $51,449 | 3.5 years |
| $75–110k | $16,190 | $71,560 | 4.9 years |
| $110k+ | $18,250 | $80,665 | 5.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (34% 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 ($47,166) minus $32,488 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in LA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $14,678 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 Louisiana colleges
Every Louisiana 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 | Tulane University of Louisiana | $76,945 | $23,082 | $39,949 | 86% |
| 2 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | $55,245 | $22,875 | $19,151 | 69% |
| 3 | Dillard University | $49,103 | $34,500 | $22,094 | 43% |
| 4 | Southern University and A & M College | $48,264 | $31,000 | $20,077 | 27% |
| 5 | Southern University Law Center | $48,264 | $31,000 | — | — |
| 6 | McNeese State University | $47,166 | $22,625 | $12,493 | 47% |
| 7 | Nicholls State University | $46,355 | $25,000 | $12,947 | 54% |
| 8 | Southeastern Louisiana University | $46,051 | $21,660 | $13,154 | 45% |
| 9 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | $44,432 | $27,000 | $13,530 | 53% |
| 10 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | $43,974 | $25,000 | $13,466 | 54% |
| 11 | Grambling State University | $43,324 | $36,500 | $19,809 | 36% |
| 12 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | $37,273 | $21,750 | $13,606 | 43% |
7 more Louisiana 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 McNeese State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About McNeese State University
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 47% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $46,453
- Full cost breakdown · all 32 majors · overview
McNeese State University Communications questions
How much do McNeese State University Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of McNeese State University earn a median $47,166 four years after graduating and $25,131 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do McNeese State University Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of McNeese State University is $22,625, about 48% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is McNeese State University a good school for Communications in Louisiana?
On pay, Communications graduates of McNeese State University earn $47,166 four years out, $406 above the median for the same major across 12 Louisiana colleges ($46,760) and $7,117 below the U.S. median ($54,283). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does McNeese State University rank for Communications in Louisiana?
Of 12 Louisiana colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, McNeese State University ranks 6th. The highest is Tulane University of Louisiana at $76,945.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $58,150 in the Lake Charles, LA 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: “McNeese State University Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/mcneese-state-university/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).