Communication and Media Studiesat Gustavus Adolphus College
Graduates earn $50,074/yr in their first year — about 42.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $554K; scenarios range from $505K to $563K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Gustavus Adolphus College
While the career paths listed are common for this major, your earning potential is amplified by Gustavus's specific environment. The program's liberal arts core will train you not just in media production, but in critical thinking and persuasive writing—skills that are highly valued in corporate and nonprofit leadership. The key is the college's strong pipeline into the robust Minneapolis-St. Paul economy. You'll find a fiercely loyal "Gustie" alumni network at major Twin Cities employers like Target, 3M, and Medtronic, creating internship and career opportunities that aren't available to graduates from other regions. To maximize this advantage, your most important move is to secure a junior-year internship in the Twin Cities. This will be your direct bridge from a Saint Peter classroom to a high-paying corporate communications or public affairs career.
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 Gustavus Adolphus College'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 Gustavus Adolphus College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Gustavus Adolphus College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Gustavus Adolphus 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 →Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College
How does Gustavus Adolphus College's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 38/100 — 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.
How affordable is Communication and Media Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $217,240, but the average net cost is $107,580 — a 50% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.