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Communication and Media Studies at Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,125/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #157 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	$572K	$562K	$510K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.9x	8.8x	8.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.0x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	44	43	36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$64,084

Out-of-state: $112,344 (5.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,984

-19% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

6.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$59,685

57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,125 at Illinois State University come in 8% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

At 8.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$38,125 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #157 out of 613 programs, Illinois State University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $38,125 to $59,685 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Illinois State University

Illinois State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 18,414 students in Normal, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois 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

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Illinois State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Illinois State University's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 43/100 — 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.

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