Communication and Media Studies at California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,101
61% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools
Compare Communication and Media Studies
Other Majors at California State University-Sacramento
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 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 →