Audiovisual Communications Technologies at Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
14 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
14
Optimistic
14
Base Case
12
Pessimistic
Earnings $20,927/yr (-19% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Medium (20,800 openings/yr)
ROI 4.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #11 of 14 Audiovisual Communications Technologies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Audiovisual Communications Technologies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $543K $537K $497K
Earnings Multiple 4.2x 4.1x 3.8x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 14 14 12

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$130,080
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,152
18% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,250
15.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,106
120% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $20,927 place Columbia College Chicago below the $25,835 national median for Audiovisual Communications Technologies — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

An earnings multiple of 4.1x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Audiovisual Communications Technologies's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,250 against $20,927/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.3 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #11 of 14 Audiovisual Communications Technologies programs, Columbia College Chicago falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $46,106 show a 120% jump from the $20,927 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Columbia College Chicago

Columbia College Chicago accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 6,294 students in Chicago, IL. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia College Chicago →

Top Career Paths

Film and video editors $70,980/yr
Camera operators, television, video, and film $68,810/yr
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners $67,310/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Audiovisual Communications Technologies at Columbia College Chicago?
A score of 14/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Audiovisual Communications Technologies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Audiovisual Communications Technologies at Columbia College Chicago worth the student debt?
Median debt of $26,250 against $20,927/yr starting salary means roughly 1.3 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Audiovisual Communications Technologies careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $496,604 in decade earnings vs $542,556 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Audiovisual Communications Technologies from Columbia College Chicago?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →