Communication and Media Studies at Indiana University-East
Richmond, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,463/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk
High (55% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
15.3x earnings multiple (5.7x 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 | $500K | $499K | $466K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 15.3x | 15.3x | 14.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.7x | 5.7x | 5.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 40% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 45 | 44 | 37 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,716
Out-of-state: $88,172 (5.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,076
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,478
29% growth from Year 1
About Indiana University-East
Indiana University-East accepts 71% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 2,446 in Richmond, IN.
See all programs and financial aid at Indiana University-East →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 Indiana University-East
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Indiana University-East's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 44/100 — 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.
Why does Indiana University-East rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?
The #134 ranking out of 613 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →