Bachelor's · Kirkland, Washington
Is Communication and Media Studies at Northwest University worth it?
Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.
The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans
Graduates typically don't earn back the cost within 20 years, compared with the no-degree baseline.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- $43,172
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- Not enough graduates to report
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- Not enough borrowers to report
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $94k (likely $94k – $106k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- $889 a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in WA
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- Not within 20 years in most scenarios
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- −$291k (likely −$386k – −$177k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- −$282k (likely −$472k – −$42k)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 67%
- 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
Other majors at Northwest University
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$107,751
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)$89,673
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral)$82,394
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's)$77,641
- Education, General (Master's)$74,550
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)$72,343
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's)$58,134
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's)$56,136
- Psychology, General (Bachelor's)$54,357
- Theological and Ministerial Studies (Bachelor's)$52,385
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's)$50,851
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's)$50,420
Communication and Media Studies at other schools in Washington
- Gonzaga University$73,558
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus$64,153
- University of Washington-Bothell Campus$64,153
- University of Washington-Tacoma Campus$64,153
- Seattle Pacific University$62,411
- Washington State University$62,406
- University of Puget Sound$61,904
- Seattle University$57,599
- Pacific Lutheran University$57,317
- Central Washington University$56,862