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Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #291 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat Edgewood College

Graduates earn $42,950/yr in their first year — about 22.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $528K; scenarios range from $486K to $534K depending on AI disruption.

Madison, WI Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
37 AT RISK
38
Optimistic
29
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,950
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.0x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$528K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Edgewood College

Edgewood College's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $42,950/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

At 3.8x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Communication and Media Studies career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $22,500 against $42,950/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #291 ranking among 613 Communication and Media Studies programs places Edgewood College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 29% earnings increase from $42,950 to $55,401 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$486K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score29/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$528K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple3.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$534K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple3.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Edgewood College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Communication and Media Studies graduates typically work

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.

1
Public relations managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 6,600 openings/yr
$138,520/yr
High
2
Fundraising managers
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$123,480/yr
High
3
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
4
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
5
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
6
Media and communication workers, all other
+2.7% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$71,770/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies

How Edgewood College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
61
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Ashford University
CA · Private for-profit
47
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
NY · Public
61
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
19.7x
ROI
Boston College
MA · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Also at Edgewood College

Other top programs at Edgewood College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Edgewood College, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at Edgewood College

What does a 37/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at Edgewood College?

At 37/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Communication and Media Studies programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Communication and Media Studies at Edgewood College?

The 55% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.