Communication and Media Studies at California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,310/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk
High (55% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
17.5x earnings multiple (6.9x 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 | $547K | $540K | $495K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.7x | 17.5x | 16.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.0x | 6.9x | 6.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 40% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 49 | 48 | 41 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,956
Out-of-state: $78,476 (6.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,545
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,408
53% growth from Year 1
About California State University-San Marcos
California State University-San Marcos accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 14,174 students in San Marcos, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 44% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-San Marcos →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
Other Majors at California State University-San Marcos
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
How does California State University-San Marcos's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Communication and Media Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 does California State University-San Marcos rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?
The #87 ranking out of 613 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →