Home Schools Baylor University Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #309 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat Baylor University

Graduates earn $43,740/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $578K; scenarios range from $522K to $591K depending on AI disruption.

Waco, TX Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
36 AT RISK
37
Optimistic
29
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,740
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.9x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$578K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Baylor University

First-year earnings of $43,740 at Baylor University come in 24% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

At 2.6x tuition cost, the financial math is tight. Decade earnings don't dramatically exceed what you paid, making school choice and aid packages critical.

The 12% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Communication and Media Studies career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $23,250 against $43,740/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #309 ranking among 613 Communication and Media Studies programs places Baylor University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 48% earnings increase from $43,740 to $64,645 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$522K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score29/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$578K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$591K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Baylor University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Communication and Media Studies graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Public relations managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 6,600 openings/yr
$138,520/yr
High
2
Fundraising managers
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$123,480/yr
High
3
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
4
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
5
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
6
Media and communication workers, all other
+2.7% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$71,770/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies

How Baylor University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
61
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Ashford University
CA · Private for-profit
47
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
NY · Public
61
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
19.7x
ROI
Boston College
MA · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Also at Baylor University

Other top programs at Baylor University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Baylor University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

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

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at Baylor University

What does a 36/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at Baylor University?

At 36/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Communication and Media Studies programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Communication and Media Studies at Baylor University?

The 55% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.