Communication and Media Studies at University of California-Los Angeles

UCLA's prestige doesn't translate into standout earnings for this Communication and Media Studies program. Based on the median of 42 similar programs across California, graduates can expect around $38,000 in their first year—roughly on par with the state median but well below what top programs like Cal Poly SLO ($62,183) and Santa Clara ($51,720) produce. For a school with a 9% admission rate, these figures suggest the UCLA brand alone won't guarantee exceptional earning power in this field.

The financial picture is manageable but unremarkable. With an estimated $15,000 in debt (below both state and national medians), the 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary—a workable starting point. That said, $38,000 goes quickly in Los Angeles, where housing costs will consume a significant portion of take-home pay. The relatively low debt helps, but the earnings don't provide much cushion for the city's cost of living.

The gap between UCLA's selectivity and these estimated outcomes raises questions about whether this particular major capitalizes on the school's advantages. If your child is set on communications at UCLA, understand that career success will likely depend more on internships, networking, and post-graduation hustle than the degree itself. The moderate debt won't trap them, but the salary trajectory in media and communications fields—where advancement often requires strategic career moves—matters more than the starting point.