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Communication and Media Studies at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
54 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
55
Optimistic
54
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,304/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 19.1x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #13 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 5%

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 $592K $579K $523K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.5x 19.1x 17.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.6x 7.4x 6.7x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 55 54 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,408
Out-of-state: $77,928 (7.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,048
-38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,101
61% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,304/yr, edging above the $35,147 national average for Communication and Media Studies — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.1x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

At $15,000 in median debt against $39,304 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #13 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 $63,101 show a 61% jump from the $39,304 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California State University-Sacramento

California State University-Sacramento has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 27,867 students enrolled in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Sacramento →

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

Compare this program → View all 613 schools offering Communication and Media Studies →

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($62,183) Cornell University ($62,182) Ashford University ($58,089) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($57,782) Boston College ($55,162) University of Maryland Global Campus ($53,513) University of Pennsylvania ($53,022) Villanova University ($52,294)

Compare Communication and Media Studies

California State University-Sacramento vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo → California State University-Sacramento vs CUNY Graduate School and University Center → California State University-Sacramento vs University of Maryland Global Campus →

Other Majors at California State University-Sacramento

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($116,001) Construction Engineering ($90,836) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,450) Civil Engineering ($71,342) Mechanical Engineering ($66,462) Computer Engineering ($66,266) Computer Science ($60,028) Interior Architecture ($50,108)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 California State University-Sacramento?
A score of 54/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Communication and Media Studies field.
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 $523,345 in decade earnings vs $592,367 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-Sacramento's Communication and Media Studies program stand out?
Ranked #13 of 613 programs nationally, California State University-Sacramento lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →