Communication and Media Studiesat Dillard University
Graduates earn $18,155/yr in their first year — about 48.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $536K; scenarios range from $492K to $542K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Dillard University
While the career paths listed show high potential, the earnings data reflects the reality of launching a communications career from a smaller, regional institution. Your first job out of Dillard will likely be in the New Orleans or Gulf Coast market, which has fewer large corporate headquarters and a smaller media landscape than hubs like New York or Atlanta. This means entry-level salaries for roles in local PR, non-profit communications, or social media management are often lower than the national benchmark. Dillard provides a strong, supportive HBCU experience, but its recruiting pipelines are more regional than national. To overcome this geographic disadvantage, your key action is to aggressively pursue remote internships with national companies *while you are still in school*. This builds a resume and network that transcends the local job market, opening doors to higher-paying opportunities right after graduation.
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 Dillard 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 Dillard University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Dillard University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Dillard 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 Dillard University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Dillard University?
A score of 20/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Communication and Media Studies at Dillard University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $34,500 against $18,155/yr starting salary means roughly 1.9 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Communication and Media Studies careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $491,795 in decade earnings vs $542,133 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Communication and Media Studies from Dillard University?
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.