Communication and Media Studiesat Metropolitan State University
Graduates earn $46,320/yr in their first year — about 32.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $548K; scenarios range from $501K to $556K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Metropolitan State University
While the national picture for a communications degree can be mixed, your strong earnings potential here is directly tied to your location. Metropolitan State isn't just in Saint Paul; it's embedded in the robust Twin Cities corporate ecosystem. You're surrounded by the headquarters of major companies like 3M, Target, and Best Buy, all of which have large, sophisticated public relations, marketing, and internal communications teams that constantly need talent. This program likely has deep, practical connections to that professional world, creating a direct pipeline from your classroom to a well-paying corporate job downtown. The curriculum is likely less theoretical and more focused on the hands-on skills these employers demand. To stand out, aggressively pursue internships with these local giants; your proximity gives you an advantage that students from other regions simply don't have.
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 Metropolitan State University'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 Metropolitan State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Metropolitan State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Metropolitan State University, 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 Metropolitan State University
How does Metropolitan State University's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies graduates.
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 Metropolitan State University rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?
The #14 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.