Communication and Media Studies at Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
36
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,685
57% growth from Year 1
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
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 →