Communication and Media Studiesat Centenary University
Graduates earn $17,274/yr in their first year — about 51.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $375K; scenarios range from $375K to $357K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Centenary University
While the career paths listed for this major can be lucrative, the outcomes here reflect a challenging local job market. Hackettstown is not a major media or corporate hub, meaning the high-value internships and entry-level roles that build a communications career are often an hour or more away in the competitive New York City metro area. Without a strong, established recruiting pipeline into those markets, many graduates may be starting in smaller, local roles with nonprofit organizations or small businesses, which naturally command lower salaries. The program’s structure may also be more theoretical than applied, lacking the specialized focus—like digital marketing analytics or technical writing—that employers increasingly demand.
Your key action item: rigorously investigate the university’s internship placement support. Ask admissions precisely where recent graduates have interned and which companies actively recruit on campus for these roles.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Centenary University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies
How Centenary University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Centenary University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Centenary 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 →Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at Centenary University
What does a 18/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at Centenary University?
At 18/100, 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 Centenary 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.
Is Centenary University a good choice for Communication and Media Studies despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Centenary University's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.