{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"EducationalOccupationalProgram","data_version":"1.0","generated_from":"2026-10-11","license":"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).","url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/stephen-f-austin-state-university/majors/communications","ids":{"ipeds_unitid":228431,"cip4":"09.01","school_slug":"stephen-f-austin-state-university","major_slug":"communications"},"school":{"name":"Stephen F Austin State University","city":"Nacogdoches","state":"TX","control":"Public","url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/stephen-f-austin-state-university","data":"https://educationguide.com/data/colleges/stephen-f-austin-state-university.json"},"major":{"name":"Communications","area":"Communications & Media","credential":"Bachelor's degree"},"outcomes":{"median_earnings_1yr":33906,"median_earnings_4yr":50302,"median_debt":24000,"debt_to_earnings_4yr":0.477,"year":{"earnings_1yr":"Treasury AY2018-19, AY2019-20 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2020, CY2021, inflation adjusted to 2022 dollars","earnings_4yr":"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"},"source":"College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)"},"national":{"colleges_reporting":639,"median_earnings_4yr":54283,"median_debt":25000},"compared_with_same_major":{"calculated_by":"EducationGuide","state":{"geography":"TX","colleges_reporting":36,"median_earnings_4yr":50274,"difference":28},"us":{"colleges_reporting":639,"median_earnings_4yr":54283,"difference":-3981},"note":"State and U.S. medians are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major (4 years after graduating); a state median is published when at least 3 colleges in the state report earnings."},"value":{"calculated_by":"EducationGuide","time_to_finish":{"average_years_among_graduates":4.3,"finished_in_4_years":0.3837,"finished_within_6_years":0.5175,"cohort":2317,"entering_class":"Fall 2017","source":"IPEDS Graduation Rates (bachelor's-seeking cohort)"},"baseline":{"median_earnings_high_school_graduates":33516,"geography":"TX","ages":"25-34","years":"2020-2024","respondents":29337,"description":"high school graduates ages 25-34 in TX (Census ACS 2020-2024)","source":"U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year PUMS (microdata): ages 25-34, high school diploma or GED as highest level, not enrolled, earnings > 0; EducationGuide calculation"},"earnings_used":50302,"earnings_basis":"median earnings of this major's graduates 4 years after graduating (College Scorecard field of study); school-wide net price","by_family_income":{"0-30k":{"net_price_per_year":10318,"cost_to_finish":44367,"payback_years":2.6,"payback_status":"ok","payback_text":"2.6 years"},"30-48k":{"net_price_per_year":11023,"cost_to_finish":47399,"payback_years":2.8,"payback_status":"ok","payback_text":"2.8 years"},"48-75k":{"net_price_per_year":13100,"cost_to_finish":56330,"payback_years":3.4,"payback_status":"ok","payback_text":"3.4 years"},"75-110k":{"net_price_per_year":17609,"cost_to_finish":75719,"payback_years":4.5,"payback_status":"ok","payback_text":"4.5 years"},"110k+":{"net_price_per_year":22959,"cost_to_finish":98724,"payback_years":5.9,"payback_status":"ok","payback_text":"5.9 years"}},"method":"cost_to_finish = max(0, net price per year) x average years graduates took; payback_years = cost_to_finish / (earnings_used - baseline), one decimal; status over_cap above 20 years, no_premium when earnings do not exceed the baseline. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. In-state net price for public colleges.","method_url":"https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value"},"state_rank":{"rank":18,"of":36,"by":"median earnings 4 years after graduating"},"state_comparison":[{"ipeds_unitid":228778,"name":"The University of Texas at Austin","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":72210,"median_debt":20500,"net_price_average":19857,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.889,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":228723,"name":"Texas A&M University-College Station","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":64533,"median_debt":17782,"net_price_average":21315,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.839,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-aandm-university-college-station/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":228875,"name":"Texas Christian University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":63531,"median_debt":21500,"net_price_average":36660,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.855,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-christian-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":229018,"name":"The University of Texas Permian Basin","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":60805,"median_debt":22852,"net_price_average":12723,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.397,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-permian-basin/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":229267,"name":"Trinity University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":59494,"median_debt":25340,"net_price_average":23464,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.84,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/trinity-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":228343,"name":"Southwestern University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":59372,"median_debt":26000,"net_price_average":29224,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.728,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/southwestern-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":223232,"name":"Baylor University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":58915,"median_debt":23860,"net_price_average":41104,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.8,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/baylor-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":228796,"name":"The University of Texas at El Paso","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":58451,"median_debt":null,"net_price_average":9403,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.502,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso"},{"ipeds_unitid":229115,"name":"Texas Tech University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":58196,"median_debt":25000,"net_price_average":19070,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.687,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-tech-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":225432,"name":"University of Houston-Downtown","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":56903,"median_debt":28375,"net_price_average":10542,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.332,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-houston-downtown/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":227845,"name":"Saint Edward's University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":54558,"median_debt":25000,"net_price_average":25578,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.626,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/saint-edwards-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":229027,"name":"The University of Texas at San Antonio","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":53267,"median_debt":22923,"net_price_average":10836,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.526,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":228459,"name":"Texas State University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":53009,"median_debt":24250,"net_price_average":16805,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.553,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-state-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":225502,"name":"University of Houston-Victoria","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":52435,"median_debt":20625,"net_price_average":8109,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.264,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-houston-victoria/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":227863,"name":"University of St Thomas","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":50859,"median_debt":null,"net_price_average":19359,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.688,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-st-thomas-tx"},{"ipeds_unitid":459949,"name":"Texas A&M University-San Antonio","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":50856,"median_debt":20500,"net_price_average":11196,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.402,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-aandm-university-san-antonio/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":228529,"name":"Tarleton State University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":50385,"median_debt":22368,"net_price_average":20783,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.482,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/tarleton-state-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":228431,"name":"Stephen F Austin State University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":50302,"median_debt":24000,"net_price_average":14260,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.533,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/stephen-f-austin-state-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":228802,"name":"The University of Texas at Tyler","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":50247,"median_debt":15021,"net_price_average":13323,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.541,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-tyler/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":227881,"name":"Sam Houston State University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":50125,"median_debt":26000,"net_price_average":16404,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.548,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/sam-houston-state-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":225414,"name":"University of Houston-Clear Lake","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":49841,"median_debt":19829,"net_price_average":15563,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.516,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-houston-clear-lake/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":226091,"name":"Lamar University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":49746,"median_debt":25669,"net_price_average":9366,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.373,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/lamar-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":225511,"name":"University of Houston","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":49545,"median_debt":24777,"net_price_average":14276,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.646,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-houston/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":226471,"name":"University of Mary Hardin-Baylor","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":49545,"median_debt":23000,"net_price_average":26106,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.493,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-mary-hardin-baylor/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":222178,"name":"Abilene Christian University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":49202,"median_debt":null,"net_price_average":26182,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.59,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/abilene-christian-university"},{"ipeds_unitid":227526,"name":"Prairie View A & M University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":48887,"median_debt":29750,"net_price_average":13570,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.432,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/prairie-view-a-and-m-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":224226,"name":"Dallas Baptist University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":48598,"median_debt":22831,"net_price_average":28516,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.57,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/dallas-baptist-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":226833,"name":"Midwestern State University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":47651,"median_debt":26000,"net_price_average":11656,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.427,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/midwestern-state-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":229814,"name":"West Texas A & M University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":47009,"median_debt":null,"net_price_average":19487,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.55,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/west-texas-a-and-m-university"},{"ipeds_unitid":222831,"name":"Angelo State University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":43002,"median_debt":21369,"net_price_average":15091,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.44,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/angelo-state-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":224147,"name":"Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":42921,"median_debt":26000,"net_price_average":15225,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.402,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-a-and-m-university-corpus-christi/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":226152,"name":"Texas A & M International University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":41350,"median_debt":17100,"net_price_average":3637,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.465,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-a-and-m-international-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":229063,"name":"Texas Southern University","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":40687,"median_debt":38783,"net_price_average":16590,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.222,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-southern-university/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":227368,"name":"The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":39940,"median_debt":11956,"net_price_average":4831,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.509,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":225627,"name":"University of the Incarnate Word","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":39660,"median_debt":27000,"net_price_average":22775,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.51,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-the-incarnate-word/majors/communications"},{"ipeds_unitid":228705,"name":"Texas A&M University-Kingsville","mostly_two_year":false,"median_earnings_4yr":37038,"median_debt":20519,"net_price_average":12090,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.419,"url":"https://educationguide.com/colleges/texas-aandm-university-kingsville/majors/communications"}],"careers":[{"soc":"27-3030","title":"Public relations specialist","median_wage_metro":null,"metro":null,"median_wage_state":65160,"median_wage_us":74750,"us_job_growth_2025_2035_pct":1.8,"typical_entry_education":"Bachelor's degree","source":"BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35"},{"soc":"13-1131","title":"Fundraisers","median_wage_metro":null,"metro":null,"median_wage_state":60320,"median_wage_us":72550,"us_job_growth_2025_2035_pct":5.5,"typical_entry_education":"Bachelor's degree","source":"BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35"},{"soc":"27-3041","title":"Editors","median_wage_metro":null,"metro":null,"median_wage_state":45950,"median_wage_us":77920,"us_job_growth_2025_2035_pct":-1.1,"typical_entry_education":"Bachelor's degree","source":"BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35"}],"school_context":{"net_price_average":14260,"net_price_by_family_income":{"0-30k":10318,"30-48k":11023,"48-75k":13100,"75-110k":17609,"110k+":22959},"acceptance_rate":0.94,"graduation_rate_6yr":0.533,"year":{"net_price":"AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25"}},"methodology":"https://educationguide.com/how-we-score"}