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Communication and Media Studies at DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,453/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #430 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs

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 $583K $571K $517K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.2x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$177,840
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$116,564
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,834
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,525
73% growth from Year 1

About DePaul University

A 74% acceptance rate means DePaul University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 14,283 in Chicago, IL. The average net cost of $116,564 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at DePaul 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

Compare this program → View all 613 schools offering Communication and Media Studies →

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($62,183) Cornell University ($62,182) Ashford University ($58,089) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($57,782) Boston College ($55,162) University of Maryland Global Campus ($53,513) University of Pennsylvania ($53,022) Villanova University ($52,294)

Other Majors at DePaul University

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($84,066) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($79,863) Computer Programming ($72,234) Accounting and Related Services ($69,250) Management Information Systems and Services ($68,769) Finance and Financial Management Services ($66,863) Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications ($61,482) Information Science/Studies ($60,468)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DePaul University's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 30/100 — 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 →