Wake Forest University — Winston-Salem, NC

Communication and Media Studies

at Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC

Strong Value

Solid pick

The Bottom Line

↑Grads earn about $43,075/yr starting out — that's 44% more than skipping college
⏱Takes about 9.4 years to earn back what you spent
$Students on financial aid pay about $28,746/yr after grants & scholarships (varies by family income) — $122,819 total with loan interest

Listed Price

$82,818/yr

Starting Salary

$43,075

Finish Rate

90.9%

$82,818/yr

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

Students on financial aid pay $28,746/yr after grants & scholarships (saves $54,072/yr)

4 Years Total

$331,272

Typical Debt

$21,500

Interest You'd Owe

+$7,835

What You'd Really Pay

$122,819

That's about $244/month for 10 years after you graduate

You'd earn (with degree)$430,750

Without college$300,000

Total cost of degree$122,819

Pays for Itself In

9.4 yrs

Salary Boost

+44%

Ahead After 10 Years

$307,931

How We Scored This

Salary vs. Cost26.6/40

Do you earn enough to justify the price?

Payoff Speed14.7/25

How fast do you earn back what you spent?

Salary Boost5.8/20

How much more than skipping college?

Graduation Rate13.6/15

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.