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Communication and Media Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,342/yr (12% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 21.1x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #47 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 10%

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	$519K	$516K	$477K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.2x	21.1x	19.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.2x	5.1x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	51	43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$24,472

Out-of-state: $100,648 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$41,276

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,479

5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,016

32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Florida Gulf Coast University's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $39,342/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Communication and Media Studies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Communication and Media Studies's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,479 in median debt clears quickly against $39,342 in annual earnings.

Ranked #47 of 613 programs, Florida Gulf Coast University's Communication and Media Studies program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $39,342 to $52,016 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Florida Gulf Coast University

A 77% acceptance rate means Florida Gulf Coast University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 13,809 in Fort Myers, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at Florida Gulf Coast 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

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Florida Gulf Coast University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University?

A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Communication and Media Studies field.

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 $477,216 in decade earnings vs $518,922 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →