U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 44 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 37% 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 $23,570. College Scorecard.
The University of Montana Communications: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Montana colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 The University of Montana'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 | $13,960 | $61,564 | 3.0 years |
| $30–48k | $14,892 | $65,674 | 3.2 years |
| $48–75k | $17,180 | $75,764 | 3.6 years |
| $75–110k | $19,269 | $84,976 | 4.1 years |
| $110k+ | $20,930 | $92,301 | 4.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (31% 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 ($54,300) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MT (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $20,784 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.
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 The University of Montana, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The University of Montana
- Acceptance rate: 96% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 48% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $44,511
- Full cost breakdown · all 70 majors · overview
Related majors at The University of Montana
- Journalism$46,267
- Broadcasting / Digital Media—
- Writing—
The University of Montana Communications questions
How much do The University of Montana Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of The University of Montana earn a median $54,300 four years after graduating and $34,377 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do The University of Montana Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of The University of Montana is $20,328, about 37% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Where does The University of Montana rank for Communications in Montana?
Of 1 Montana colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, The University of Montana ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $61,620 in the Missoula, MT 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: “The University of Montana Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-montana/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).