University of Maryland-College Park — College Park, MD

Communication and Media Studies

at University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD

Strong Value

Solid pick

The Bottom Line

↑Grads earn about $41,724/yr starting out — that's 39% more than skipping college
⏱Takes about 5.4 years to earn back what you spent
$Students on financial aid pay about $14,296/yr after grants & scholarships (varies by family income) — $63,015 total with loan interest

Listed Price

$29,816/yr

Starting Salary

$41,724

Finish Rate

88.4%

$29,816/yr

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

Students on financial aid pay $14,296/yr after grants & scholarships (saves $15,520/yr)

4 Years Total

$119,264

Typical Debt

$16,000

Interest You'd Owe

+$5,831

What You'd Really Pay

$63,015

That's about $182/month for 10 years after you graduate

You'd earn (with degree)$417,240

Without college$300,000

Total cost of degree$63,015

Pays for Itself In

5.4 yrs

Salary Boost

+39%

Ahead After 10 Years

$354,225

How We Scored This

Salary vs. Cost40/40

Do you earn enough to justify the price?

Payoff Speed20.3/25

How fast do you earn back what you spent?

Salary Boost5.2/20

How much more than skipping college?

Graduation Rate13.3/15

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.