U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 19 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 45% 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 $51,856. College Scorecard.
Ottawa University-Ottawa 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 Ottawa University-Ottawa'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 | $22,449 | $95,857 | 3.8 years |
| $30–48k | $22,912 | $97,834 | 3.9 years |
| $48–75k | $25,525 | $108,992 | 4.3 years |
| $75–110k | $30,199 | $128,950 | 5.1 years |
| $110k+ | $30,771 | $131,392 | 5.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (23% 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 ($59,445) minus $34,216 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KS (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $25,229 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 Kansas colleges
Every Kansas college we cover that reports Communications graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants. Colleges marked "mostly 2-year" or "bachelor's & associate" award more associate degrees than bachelor's; their bachelor's programs often serve working adults finishing a degree (for example, nurses completing a BSN), so their graduates' earnings can run higher than those of students starting college at 18.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kansas | $60,258 | $22,250 | $18,059 | 69% |
| 2 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | $59,445 | $27,000 | $27,963 | 28% |
| 3 | Ottawa University-Kansas City | $59,445 | $27,000 | — | — |
| 4 | Kansas State University | $52,603 | $24,945 | $19,406 | 71% |
| 5 | Wichita State University | $50,773 | $25,159 | $13,194 | 51% |
| 6 | Washburn University | $46,497 | $21,875 | $15,280 | 53% |
| 7 | Pittsburg State Universitybachelor's & associate | $45,940 | $23,250 | $15,784 | 57% |
| 8 | Emporia State University | $45,003 | $26,000 | $16,261 | 56% |
12 more Kansas 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 Ottawa University-Ottawa, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Ottawa University-Ottawa
- Acceptance rate: 83% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 28% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,552
- Full cost breakdown · all 35 majors · overview
Ottawa University-Ottawa Communications questions
How much do Ottawa University-Ottawa Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of Ottawa University-Ottawa earn a median $59,445 four years after graduating and $33,465 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do Ottawa University-Ottawa Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of Ottawa University-Ottawa is $27,000, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Ottawa University-Ottawa a good school for Communications in Kansas?
On pay, Communications graduates of Ottawa University-Ottawa earn $59,445 four years out, $7,757 above the median for the same major across 8 Kansas colleges ($51,688) and $5,162 above the U.S. median ($54,283). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Ottawa University-Ottawa rank for Communications in Kansas?
Of 8 Kansas colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, Ottawa University-Ottawa ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Kansas at $60,258.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $64,860 in Kansas and $74,750 nationally. Others include fundraisers and editors.
Is Ottawa University-Ottawa the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Ottawa University-Ottawa with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Ottawa University-Ottawa Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/ottawa-university-ottawa/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).