University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, IL

Communication and Media Studies

at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

Strong Value

Solid pick

The Bottom Line

↑Grads earn about $38,661/yr starting out — that's 29% more than skipping college
⏱Takes about 7.5 years to earn back what you spent
$Students on financial aid pay about $14,355/yr after grants & scholarships (varies by family income) — $64,526 total with loan interest

Listed Price

$33,642/yr

Starting Salary

$38,661

Finish Rate

85.1%

$33,642/yr

Full sticker price — tuition, housing, and fees before any aid

Students on financial aid pay $14,355/yr after grants & scholarships (saves $19,287/yr)

4 Years Total

$134,568

Typical Debt

$19,500

Interest You'd Owe

+$7,106

What You'd Really Pay

$64,526

That's about $222/month for 10 years after you graduate

You'd earn (with degree)$386,610

Without college$300,000

Total cost of degree$64,526

Pays for Itself In

7.5 yrs

Salary Boost

+29%

Ahead After 10 Years

$322,084

How We Scored This

Salary vs. Cost40/40

Do you earn enough to justify the price?

Payoff Speed17.4/25

How fast do you earn back what you spent?

Salary Boost3.8/20

How much more than skipping college?

Graduation Rate12.8/15

Will you actually finish?

Data from the U.S. Department of Education. Salaries are what recent grads typically earn — yours could be higher or lower.

Costs can change. These numbers don't adjust for where you live, and only cover students who used federal financial aid. Not financial advice.