Business/Corporate Communications at Aquinas College

Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,378/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (63% exposed)
Job Market Large (88,400 openings/yr)
ROI 3.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #10 of 14 Business/Corporate Communications programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business/Corporate Communications graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $530K $524K $480K
Earnings Multiple 3.4x 3.4x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 40% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$154,080
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,608
51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,041
13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $49,378 per year, Business/Corporate Communications graduates from Aquinas College earn slightly above the $43,277 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

An earnings multiple of 3.4x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Business/Corporate Communications's typical career paths, with 63% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $21,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #10 of 14 Business/Corporate Communications programs, Aquinas College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $56,041 are relatively flat compared to the $49,378 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Aquinas College

With 71% of applicants admitted, Aquinas College prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 1,201 in Grand Rapids, MI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $75,608 — 51% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Aquinas College →

Top Career Paths

Public relations managers $138,520/yr
Fundraising managers $123,480/yr
Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business/Corporate Communications at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business/Corporate Communications at Aquinas College?
A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Business/Corporate Communications. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Business/Corporate Communications careers?
With 63% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $480,114 in decade earnings vs $529,615 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Aquinas College a hidden gem for Business/Corporate Communications?
After financial aid, the average student pays $75,608 over four years — 51% below the $154,080 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →