Communication and Media Studies at Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
39
Optimistic
38
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,835/yr (22% vs median)
AI Risk
High (55% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
2.8x earnings multiple
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 | $619K | $602K | $540K |
| Earnings Multiple | 2.9x | 2.8x | 2.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 40% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 39 | 38 | 30 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$216,808
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,321
59% growth from Year 1
About Lake Forest College
Lake Forest College accepts 59% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,782 students in Lake Forest, IL. The average net cost of $109,996 over four years represents a 49% discount from published tuition.
See all programs and financial aid at Lake Forest College →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 Lake Forest College
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Lake Forest College's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 38/100 — 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 →