Home Schools Hobart William Smith Colleges Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #233 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat Hobart William Smith Colleges

Graduates earn $50,750/yr in their first year — about 44.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $597K; scenarios range from $536K to $613K depending on AI disruption.

Geneva, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
40 AVERAGE
41
Optimistic
33
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,750
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$597K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Hobart William Smith Colleges

While Geneva isn't a major media hub, Hobart and William Smith's impressive outcomes point to a powerful combination of liberal arts rigor and a well-connected alumni network. You're not just learning theory; you're developing the critical thinking and polished communication skills that employers in competitive fields like public relations and corporate fundraising demand. The program’s strength lies in its ability to place graduates into high-paying roles in major East Coast cities like New York and Boston, where its reputation precedes it. This isn't just a degree; it’s an entry point into a professional circle that actively recruits from the colleges. Your key to unlocking this potential is the internship program. Use the career center aggressively to land a placement in a major metro area—that experience will be your bridge from upstate New York to a top-tier career.

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
$536K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple2.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$597K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$613K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Hobart William Smith Colleges'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 Hobart William Smith Colleges 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
Same state (NY)
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 Hobart William Smith Colleges

Other top programs at Hobart William Smith Colleges

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Hobart William Smith Colleges, 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges

How does Hobart William Smith Colleges's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 40/100 — 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges after financial aid?

Sticker price is $253,072, but the average net cost is $124,228 — a 51% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.