Communication and Media Studiesat Lewis & Clark College
Graduates earn $17,707/yr in their first year — about 50.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $743K; scenarios range from $641K to $780K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Lewis & Clark College
While the career paths listed have high earning potential, these figures often reflect mid-career salaries at large corporations, which isn't the typical trajectory for a Lewis & Clark graduate. Your program is rooted in a liberal arts tradition, emphasizing critical theory and media analysis over purely vocational skills. This academic focus, combined with Portland’s vibrant but competitive market of nonprofits and creative agencies, means your first job is more likely to be mission-driven than corporate. You'll be competing for roles in local media, arts advocacy, or community organizing—fields that are fulfilling but offer lower starting pay than corporate communications in a major business hub. To bridge this gap, your key action is to aggressively pursue internships. Use your summers to gain practical PR, digital marketing, or fundraising experience to complement your strong theoretical foundation.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Lewis & Clark College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies
How Lewis & Clark College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Lewis & Clark College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Lewis & Clark College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communication and Media Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at Lewis & Clark College
How does Lewis & Clark College's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 17/100 — on the lower end for Communication and Media Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Lewis & Clark College Communication and Media Studies graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.2x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
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 are Communication and Media Studies earnings lower at Lewis & Clark College?
Lower starting pay at Lewis & Clark College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.