Communication and Media Studiesat Elon University
Graduates earn $48,637/yr in their first year — about 38.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $622K; scenarios range from $554K to $642K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Elon University
Elon’s impressive earning potential isn’t an accident; it’s a direct result of the program’s structure and location. You're not just studying theory here. The School of Communications is known for its intense, hands-on approach, pushing you into internships and student-run agencies from day one. This builds a professional portfolio before you even graduate. Proximity to the Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) provides a rich pipeline into corporate communications, public relations, and marketing roles at major tech and healthcare firms that simply don't exist in more isolated college towns. These are competitive, high-paying sectors that value practical experience. Your key to success will be leveraging Elon’s required internship program to land a placement at a well-known company in the Triangle—that experience is what transforms your degree into a high-powered career launchpad.
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 Elon 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 Elon University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Elon University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Elon 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 Elon University
What does a 46/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at Elon University?
At 46/100, 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 Elon University?
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.
Is Elon University one of the best schools for Communication and Media Studies?
Among 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, Elon University's #113 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.