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Communication and Media Studies at Augsburg University

Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,604/yr (4% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 2.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #494 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Communication and Media Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$497K	$497K	$464K
Earnings Multiple	2.8x	2.8x	2.6x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	28	27	20

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$175,768

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,500

46% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

8.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$47,726

30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,604 track close to the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The financial case is thin at 2.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $36,604 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #494 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, Augsburg University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $36,604 to $47,726 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Augsburg University

Augsburg University has a 77% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 2,429 students in Minneapolis, MN. 52% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $95,500 — 46% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Augsburg University →

Top Career Paths

Public relations managers $138,520/yr

Fundraising managers $123,480/yr

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Augsburg University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Augsburg University?

A score of 27/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Communication and Media Studies careers?

With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $463,556 in decade earnings vs $497,171 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →