Home Schools Caldwell University Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #609 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat Caldwell University

Graduates earn $22,371/yr in their first year — about 36.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $499K; scenarios range from $466K to $500K depending on AI disruption.

Caldwell, NJ Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
16 AT RISK
16
Optimistic
13
Pessimistic
Earnings
$22,371
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.7x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$499K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Caldwell University

While the career paths listed are lucrative, they represent mid-to-late career goals, not entry-level positions. At a small, regional university like Caldwell, you'll be competing for internships and first jobs in the hyper-competitive New York City media market against graduates from national powerhouses like NYU and Columbia. Those schools have deeply embedded recruiting pipelines that Caldwell lacks, making it difficult to land the high-paying corporate communications or agency roles right after graduation. Many graduates likely find themselves in lower-paid administrative, non-profit, or local media roles to start. To overcome this, your key advantage will be hands-on experience; you must aggressively pursue multiple internships throughout your four years, building a professional portfolio and network that can command attention in a crowded field.

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
$466K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score13/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$499K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score16/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$500K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score16/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Caldwell 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 Caldwell 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 Caldwell University

Other top programs at Caldwell University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Caldwell 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 Caldwell University

How does Caldwell University's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 16/100 — on the lower end for Communication and Media Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Do Caldwell University Communication and Media Studies graduates earn enough to justify the loans?

The debt-to-income ratio of 1.2x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.

How vulnerable is Communication and Media Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Communication and Media Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 55% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Communication and Media Studies earnings lower at Caldwell University?

Lower starting pay at Caldwell University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.