U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 22 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 81% 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 $19,772. College Scorecard.
West Virginia State University Communications: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 | $9,457 | $40,760 | 7.9 years |
| $30–48k | $10,225 | $44,070 | 8.5 years |
| $48–75k | $10,703 | $46,130 | 8.9 years |
| $75–110k | $13,798 | $59,469 | 11.5 years |
| $110k+ | $17,355 | $74,800 | 14.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (25% 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 ($37,866) minus $32,695 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WV (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $5,171 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 West Virginia colleges
Every West Virginia 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 | Shepherd University | $50,353 | $19,558 | $11,363 | 51% |
| 2 | West Virginia State University | $37,866 | $30,788 | $11,139 | 39% |
6 more West Virginia 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 West Virginia State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About West Virginia State University
- Acceptance rate: 96% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 39% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $40,492
- Full cost breakdown · all 25 majors · overview
West Virginia State University Communications questions
How much do West Virginia State University Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of West Virginia State University earn a median $37,866 four years after graduating and $26,351 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do West Virginia State University Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of West Virginia State University is $30,788, about 81% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Where does West Virginia State University rank for Communications in West Virginia?
Of 2 West Virginia colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, West Virginia State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Shepherd University at $50,353.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $54,790 in the Charleston, WV 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: “West Virginia State University Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/west-virginia-state-university/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).