Bachelor's · San Antonio, Texas

Is Communication and Media Studies at Texas A&M University-San Antonio worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 6.2 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$36,662
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$54,626
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$22,185
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$61k (likely $61k – $85k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$18k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in TX
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
6.2 years (likely 4.7–8.5)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
−$77k (likely −$155k – −$4k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$158k (likely $10k – $306k)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
34%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

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.