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Communication and Media Studies at McDaniel College

Westminster, MD · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
29
Optimistic
28
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,402/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #469 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 $616K $600K $538K
Earnings Multiple 3.1x 3.0x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 29 28 22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$198,588
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$83,692
58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,500
9.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,755
94% growth from Year 1

About McDaniel College

McDaniel College has a 84% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 1,652 students in Westminster, MD. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $83,692 — 58% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at McDaniel College →

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 McDaniel College

Accounting and Related Services ($65,941) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($59,048) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($38,122) Sociology ($37,728) English Language and Literature, General ($35,793) Biology, General ($33,241)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

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 McDaniel College?
A score of 28/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $538,451 in decade earnings vs $616,415 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is McDaniel College a hidden gem for Communication and Media Studies?
After financial aid, the average student pays $83,692 over four years — 58% below the $198,588 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →