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Communication and Media Studies at Frostburg State University

Frostburg, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,720/yr (-18% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 13.9x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #264 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 50%

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	$566K	$556K	$507K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.1x	13.9x	12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.5x	5.0x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	38	38	33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,992

Out-of-state: $100,720 (5.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$61,292

-53% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,250

10.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,286

89% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,720 place Frostburg State University below the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.9x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,250 represents roughly 10 months of the $28,720 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #264 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, Frostburg State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $54,286 show a 89% jump from the $28,720 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Frostburg State University

Frostburg State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 2,849 students in Frostburg, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at Frostburg State 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

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Frostburg State University?

A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $506,655 in decade earnings vs $565,792 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Communication and Media Studies from Frostburg State 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.

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