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Communication and Media Studies at Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,953/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 8.5x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #214 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 50%

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	$566K	$557K	$507K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.7x	8.5x	7.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.6x	4.5x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	42	41	34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$65,404

Out-of-state: $123,952 (4.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$88,788

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

7.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,422

58% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,953 at Christopher Newport University come in 5% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

At 8.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$36,953 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #214 out of 613 programs, Christopher Newport University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $36,953 to $58,422 over five years (58% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Christopher Newport University

Christopher Newport University accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,402 in Newport News, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Christopher Newport University →

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

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Christopher Newport University

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 Christopher Newport University's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 41/100 — 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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →