Communication and Media Studies at Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,778/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk
High (55% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
9.8x earnings multiple (8.3x out-of-state)
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 | $533K | $528K | $486K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.9x | 9.8x | 9.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 8.4x | 8.3x | 7.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 40% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 42 | 42 | 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)
$53,612
Out-of-state: $63,516 (8.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,676
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,765
42% growth from Year 1
About Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University accepts 68% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, a smaller institution with 4,398 students in Charleston, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at Eastern Illinois University →Top Career Paths
Public relations managers
$138,520/yr
Fundraising managers
$123,480/yr
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools
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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
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 Eastern Illinois University's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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 →