Bachelor's · Wayne, New Jersey
Is Communication and Media Studies at William Paterson University of New Jersey worth it?
High confidence High confidence: 100+ graduates behind the earnings figures.
The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans
Pays back slowly: graduates typically recover the cost in about 7.7 years.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- $40,555
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- $57,561
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- $25,000
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $79k (likely $79k – $106k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- $18k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in NJ
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- 7.7 years (likely 6.5–9.4)
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- −$115k (likely −$191k – −$71k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- $101k (likely −$939 – $226k)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 44%
- Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in
- not reported / ≤ 5%
- NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20
Change income, residency or loans Compare Communication and Media Studies at other schools
🎬 Getting ready in high school
Students heading toward media & storytelling majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.
AP classes
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP Seminar
IB Higher Level
- Language A: Literature HL or Language and Literature HL
- Film HL
Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.
Other majors at William Paterson University of New Jersey
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's)$137,010
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)$101,328
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$80,549
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$76,282
- Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's)$75,411
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's)$74,359
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's)$74,275
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's)$72,447
- Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)$71,745
- Special Education and Teaching (Master's)$71,699
- Mathematics (Bachelor's)$71,340
- Biology, General (Bachelor's)$71,026
Communication and Media Studies at other schools in New Jersey
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick$69,709
- The College of New Jersey$68,654
- Rider University$59,897
- Bloomfield College of Montclair State University$59,247
- Montclair State University$59,247
- Monmouth University$58,759
- Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus$57,829
- Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus$57,829
- Caldwell University$57,307
- Ramapo College of New Jersey$56,894