Corporate Communications at Aquinas College

Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Corporate Communications
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 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, 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 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 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

Corporate Communications at Other Schools

Other Majors at Aquinas College

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Corporate Communications at Aquinas College?
A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Corporate Communications. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace 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 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 →