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Communication and Media Studies at Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
24
Optimistic
24
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,090/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 5.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #551 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs

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 $403K $415K $405K
Earnings Multiple 4.9x 5.1x 4.9x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 24 20

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$81,920
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,044
2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$31,000
14.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$28,625
10% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $26,090 place Johnson C Smith University below the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.1x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Communication and Media Studies's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -0% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $31,000 against $26,090/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.2 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #551 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, Johnson C Smith University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Johnson C Smith University

A 43% admission rate makes Johnson C Smith University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 1,047 students in Charlotte, NC. With 68% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Johnson C Smith 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

Compare this program → View all 613 schools offering Communication and Media Studies →

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($62,183) Cornell University ($62,182) Ashford University ($58,089) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($57,782) Boston College ($55,162) University of Maryland Global Campus ($53,513) University of Pennsylvania ($53,022) Villanova University ($52,294)

Other Majors at Johnson C Smith University

Business Administration, Management and Operations ($37,906) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($33,847) Criminology ($32,751) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($29,678) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($29,621) Biology, General ($28,675)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Johnson C Smith University?
A score of 24/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Communication and Media Studies at Johnson C Smith University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $31,000 against $26,090/yr starting salary means roughly 1.2 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Communication and Media Studies careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $404,691 in decade earnings vs $403,456 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Communication and Media Studies from Johnson C Smith University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →