Communication and Media Studies graduates from Cabrillo College earn $53,531 median salary — above the national average for this program.
Communication and Media Studies at Cabrillo College
Aptos, California • Certificate
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Communication and Media Studies at Cabrillo College
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Cabrillo College and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Communication and Media Studies at the certificate credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 14 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Cabrillo College, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $53,531 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $46,872 across all institutions offering Communication and Media Studies, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Cabrillo College, the mean median-earnings figure is $60,765, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. Median federal debt is not separately reported for this program at this school.. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $68,990 | $24,188 |
| Cabrillo College (this school) | $53,531 | — |
| Reedley College | $47,296 | — |
| Black Hills State University | $45,937 | — |
| Full Sail University | $37,679 | $14,028 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | $27,798 | — |
Other Programs at Cabrillo College
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $122,830 | $15,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $113,277 | — |
| Engineering, General | $85,144 | — |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $84,260 | — |
| Physics | $80,759 | — |
| Mathematics | $78,420 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $55,719 | — |
| Business/Commerce, General | $54,690 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies (current) | $53,531 | — |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $51,576 | — |
Other Schools with Communication and Media Studies
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.