# Mercer University: Communications (bachelor's)

Macon, GA. IPEDS 140447, CIP 09.01. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/mercer-university/majors/communications

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $35,712
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $52,530 (U.S. median for this major: $54,283 across 639 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $26,990 (U.S. median $25,000)
- Rank in GA: 4 of 13 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the GA median for this major (13 colleges, $47,880): +$4,650
- Versus the U.S. median: -$1,753

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.14 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $52,530 minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in GA (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $19,817 | $82,042 | 4.3 years |
| 30-48k | $21,484 | $88,944 | 4.7 years |
| 48-75k | $22,533 | $93,287 | 4.9 years |
| 75-110k | $25,184 | $104,262 | 5.5 years |
| 110k+ | $26,770 | $110,828 | 5.8 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Communications at GA colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emory University | $78,866 | $21,000 | $22,585 | 91% |
| University of Georgia | $68,319 | $22,500 | $13,936 | 90% |
| Kennesaw State University | $59,675 | $30,022 | $15,048 | 52% |
| Mercer University | $52,530 | $26,990 | $23,847 | 70% |
| University of North Georgia | $51,131 | $19,000 | $9,823 | 37% |
| Columbus State University | $48,499 | $29,500 | $13,115 | 42% |
| Valdosta State University | $47,880 | $29,000 | $10,945 | 42% |
| Georgia State University | $47,132 | $27,854 | $15,931 | 53% |
| Augusta University | $42,568 | $30,520 | $13,787 | 49% |
| Clayton State University | $40,300 | $35,000 | $8,365 | 40% |
| Morehouse College | $40,273 | $26,000 | $39,013 | 59% |
| Albany State University | $39,265 | not reported | $11,898 | 31% |
| Fort Valley State University | $26,285 | $34,000 | $10,338 | 41% |

## Careers
- Public relations specialist (SOC 27-3030): median wage $61,560 Macon-Bibb County, GA, $73,200 GA, $74,750 U.S.; U.S. jobs 1.8% by 2035
- Fundraisers (SOC 13-1131): median wage $68,060 Macon-Bibb County, GA, $72,010 GA, $72,550 U.S.; U.S. jobs 5.5% by 2035
- Editors (SOC 27-3041): median wage not reported Macon-Bibb County, GA, $76,650 GA, $77,920 U.S.; U.S. jobs -1.1% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).