Communication and Media Studiesat Olivet Nazarene University
Graduates earn $23,259/yr in their first year — about 34.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $512K; scenarios range from $475K to $515K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Olivet Nazarene University
While the career paths listed are high-paying leadership roles, your initial journey with this degree will likely start closer to home. Olivet’s location in Bourbonnais means many graduates find their first jobs in the local Kankakee County economy or similar Midwest markets, which don't have the large corporate headquarters or major media outlets that drive up salaries. As a faith-based institution, the program also has a strong reputation for placing graduates in mission-driven work at non-profits, churches, and community organizations. These roles can be incredibly fulfilling but typically offer more modest compensation than corporate communication departments in a major hub like Chicago. To boost your earning potential, your key action is to aggressively pursue internships in the Chicago metro area during your junior and senior years to build a professional network outside the immediate region.
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 Olivet Nazarene 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 Olivet Nazarene University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Olivet Nazarene University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Olivet Nazarene 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 Olivet Nazarene University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Olivet Nazarene University?
A score of 17/100 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 Olivet Nazarene University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $27,000 against $23,259/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 $474,562 in decade earnings vs $514,693 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Communication and Media Studies from Olivet Nazarene 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.