Communication & Media Studies Degree

16 schools compared · Average earnings $34,532/yr

Students study specialized or interdisciplinary areas of communication that may combine elements of media production, strategic communication, digital storytelling, and audience analysis. Graduates typically pursue careers across media, marketing, corporate communications, and content creation. This flexible category allows students to craft unique skill sets at the intersection of multiple communication disciplines.

What Communication & Media Studies Graduates Do

Your career will be about shaping messages. As a writer or editor, you’ll spend your days interviewing experts for a feature article, transforming dense technical jargon into a clear user guide, or managing a team of freelancers to produce a consistent stream of blog content. You might start as a junior copywriter or editorial assistant, handling first drafts and proofreading, before advancing to a senior role where you set content strategy or have the final say on what gets published. Another path involves academia, where you’ll teach communication skills to college students while conducting your own research.

Be prepared for a field undergoing a fundamental shift. AI is profoundly reshaping writing and editing roles, automating the initial drafting and basic copyediting that junior staff once handled. This means fewer entry-level positions and intense competition, particularly in editing, which shows little growth. Your value will not be in simply producing words, but in your ability to strategically direct AI, critically evaluate its output, and apply the sophisticated judgment and unique voice that only a human can provide. Adaptability is no longer a soft skill; it's your core professional asset.

Schools Offering
16
Avg Grad Earnings
$34,532/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
32/100
AI Automation Risk
Very High
64% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Communication & Media Studies graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 25,900 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800
$60K$103K
2,700 +2.1% 43%
Editors
$75,260
$50K$101K
9,800 +0.6% 65%
Writers and authors
$72,270
$53K$98K
13,400 +3.6% 89%
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800
$60K $103K
2,700 openings/yr +2.1% growth 43% AI risk
Editors
$75,260
$50K $101K
9,800 openings/yr +0.6% growth 65% AI risk
Writers and authors
$72,270
$53K $98K
13,400 openings/yr +3.6% growth 89% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Compare 16 Communication & Media Studies programs side by side in our full ranking →

Best Schools for Communication & Media Studies

16 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
49
38–50
$38,660/yr 16.6x
2 Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, NY
47
37–47
$33,836/yr 19.2x
3 Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH
41
30–42
$41,040/yr 9.6x
4 Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI
38
26–38
$40,415/yr 7.9x
5 University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE
38
27–39
$39,400/yr 10.8x
6 Middle Georgia State University
Macon, GA
38
32–38
$28,024/yr 27.6x
7 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN
37
26–38
$43,969/yr 5.7x
8 SUNY Buffalo State University
Buffalo, NY
34
26–34
$30,049/yr 13.2x
9 Wisconsin Lutheran College
Milwaukee, WI
33
22–34
$44,511/yr 2.2x
10 Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN
30
23–30
$28,828/yr 10.9x
11 California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA
27
18–28
$34,432/yr 2.2x
12 Berry College
Mount Berry, GA
25
15–26
$36,931/yr 2.2x
13 Benedictine College
Atchison, KS
21
14–22
$30,238/yr 1.2x
14 Augustana College
Rock Island, IL
21
13–21
$30,104/yr 0.5x
15 Howard University
Washington, DC
18
13–18
$25,878/yr 0.9x
16 Malone University
Canton, OH
16
11–16
$26,204/yr 2.2x

Highest Earning Communication & Media Studies Programs

Schools where Communication & Media Studies graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings DW Score
Wisconsin Lutheran College $44,511/yr 33
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities $43,969/yr 37
Ohio State University-Main Campus $41,040/yr 41
Grand Valley State University $40,415/yr 38
University of Nebraska at Omaha $39,400/yr 38
West Virginia University $38,660/yr 49
Berry College $36,931/yr 25
California Lutheran University $34,432/yr 27
Farmingdale State College $33,836/yr 47
Benedictine College $30,238/yr 21

Best ROI for Communication & Media Studies

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Communication & Media Studies.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
Middle Georgia State University 27.6x $28,024/yr 38
Farmingdale State College 19.2x $33,836/yr 47
West Virginia University 16.6x $38,660/yr 49
SUNY Buffalo State University 13.2x $30,049/yr 34
Tennessee Technological University 10.9x $28,828/yr 30
University of Nebraska at Omaha 10.8x $39,400/yr 38
Ohio State University-Main Campus 9.6x $41,040/yr 41
Grand Valley State University 7.9x $40,415/yr 38
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 5.7x $43,969/yr 37
Malone University 2.2x $26,204/yr 16
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Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communication & Media Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the typical salary after a Communication & Media Studies degree?
Across 16 schools, Communication & Media Studies graduates earn an average of $34,532 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $25,878 to $44,511 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Communication & Media Studies?
Communication & Media Studies is rated "Very High" for AI automation risk, with 64% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Where should I study Communication & Media Studies?
West Virginia University leads all 16 programs with a DegreeOutlook Score of 49/100. Graduates earn $38,660/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.
What's the outlook for a Communication & Media Studies degree?
The average 10-year earnings multiple is 8.3x tuition. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →