Program Analysis
Arkansas State University's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $40,192/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Communication and Media Studies programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Communication and Media Studies's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $21,250 represents roughly 6 months of the $40,192 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #129 of 613 nationally, this is a top-5% Communication and Media Studies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $44,327 are relatively flat compared to the $40,192 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.