U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 74 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 43% 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 $23,717. College Scorecard.
University of Southern Maine Communications: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Maine 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 University of Southern Maine'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 | $9,999 | $52,495 | 3.2 years |
| $30–48k | $10,847 | $56,947 | 3.5 years |
| $48–75k | $12,550 | $65,888 | 4.0 years |
| $75–110k | $16,750 | $87,938 | 5.4 years |
| $110k+ | $19,180 | $100,695 | 6.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 5.3 years, the average time graduates took (3% 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 ($53,033) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in ME (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,372 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 Maine colleges
Every Maine 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 Maine | $58,306 | $26,057 | $17,510 | 55% |
| 2 | University of Southern Maine | $53,033 | $22,623 | $13,596 | 40% |
1 more Maine college offers Communications but has 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 University of Southern Maine, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Southern Maine
- Acceptance rate: 79% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 40% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,958
- Full cost breakdown · all 53 majors · overview
University of Southern Maine Communications questions
How much do University of Southern Maine Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of University of Southern Maine earn a median $53,033 four years after graduating and $35,920 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do University of Southern Maine Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of University of Southern Maine is $22,623, about 43% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Where does University of Southern Maine rank for Communications in Maine?
Of 2 Maine colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, University of Southern Maine ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Maine at $58,306.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $68,330 in the Portland-South Portland, ME area and $74,750 nationally. Others include fundraisers and editors.
Is University of Southern Maine the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing University of Southern Maine 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: “University of Southern Maine Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-southern-maine/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).