Communication and Media Studies: University of Maryland Global Campus vs University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
18.7x
$31,968 tuition
11.7x
$51,268 tuition
Out-of-State
12.1x
$49,344 tuition
3.5x
$168,684 tuition
$599,121 10-yr earnings · Public
$597,434 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

University of Maryland Global Campus University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.7x 11.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.1x 3.5x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $31,968 $51,268
Year 1 Earnings $53,513 $44,638
10-Year Earnings $599K $597K
Median Debt $23,000 $15,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.2 months 4.0 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 57/100 46/100

Both programs have high AI automation risk (55% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Communication and Media Studies graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Communication and Media Studies graduates.

University of Maryland Global Campus University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $31,968 $51,268
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $49,344 $168,684
10-Year Projected Earnings $599K $597K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.7x 11.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.1x 3.5x
5-Year Salary Growth +34% +53%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Communication and Media Studies (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

University of Maryland Global Campus University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $615K $599K $538K $613K $597K $536K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 19.2x 18.7x 16.8x 12.0x 11.7x 10.5x
DegreeWorth Score 58 57 49 48 46 38

For the full AI analysis of Communication and Media Studies career paths, see the University of Maryland Global Campus or University of Washington-Tacoma Campus program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Communication and Media Studies graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$19,300
University of Maryland Global Campus saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$8,875/yr
University of Maryland Global Campus grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
18.7x / 11.7x
Out-of-state: 12.1x / 3.5x

Career Paths

Communication and Media Studies graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Public relations managers $138,520 6,600 +5.0% 55%
Fundraising managers $123,480 3,600 +4.2% 56%
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800 2,700 +2.1% 43%
Editors $75,260 9,800 +0.6% 65%
Writers and authors $72,270 13,400 +3.6% 89%
Media and communication workers, all other $71,770 3,000 +2.7% 0%
Public relations specialists $69,780 27,600 +4.8% 59%
Fundraisers $66,490 10,200 +4.3% 52%
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Communication and Media Studies: University of Maryland Global Campus or University of Washington-Tacoma Campus?
University of Maryland Global Campus scores 57/100 while University of Washington-Tacoma Campus scores 46/100. University of Maryland Global Campus has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Communication and Media Studies?
University of Maryland Global Campus has an in-state earnings multiple of 18.7x vs University of Washington-Tacoma Campus's 11.7x. That means University of Maryland Global Campus grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do University of Maryland Global Campus and University of Washington-Tacoma Campus compare on Communication and Media Studies earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $53,513 at University of Maryland Global Campus vs $44,638 at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $599,121 vs $597,434 — a difference of $1,687.
How much does Communication and Media Studies cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $31,968 at University of Maryland Global Campus and $51,268 at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus. Median debt at graduation is $23,000 vs $15,000. Both programs lead to the same Communication and Media Studies career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.