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Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #612 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat Hood College

Graduates earn $20,422/yr in their first year — about 42.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $547K; scenarios range from $500K to $555K depending on AI disruption.

Frederick, MD Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
15 AT RISK
16
Optimistic
13
Pessimistic
Earnings
$20,422
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$547K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Hood College

While the career paths listed have high earning potential, the data suggests Hood graduates struggle to land those top-tier roles right away. Your challenge will be breaking into the competitive Washington D.C. and Baltimore media markets. You'll be competing against graduates from larger universities with more established recruiting pipelines into major PR firms, government agencies, and media outlets. The program's liberal arts focus can build strong writing and critical thinking skills, but it may lack the specialized, technical portfolio that helps a resume stand out in a crowded field. To overcome this, your key action item is to secure multiple, high-quality internships in the D.C. area, even if it means a tough commute. Your professional network and hands-on experience, more than your diploma alone, will determine your career trajectory.

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
$500K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score13/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$547K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score15/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$555K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score16/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Hood College'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 Hood College 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
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 Hood College

Other top programs at Hood College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Hood 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at Hood College

What does a 15/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at Hood College?

At 15/100, 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 Hood College?

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 Hood College a good choice for Communication and Media Studies despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If Hood College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.