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Communication and Media Studies at Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,970/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #483 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 $587K $575K $520K
Earnings Multiple 2.9x 2.8x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 28 21

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$203,856
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,480
58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,604
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,869
76% growth from Year 1

About Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran University accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 2,350 students in Tacoma, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $85,480 — 58% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Pacific Lutheran University →

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 Pacific Lutheran University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($81,761) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,055) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($57,683) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($57,624) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($52,919) Chemistry ($44,555) Economics ($43,806) Political Science and Government ($41,518)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Pacific Lutheran University?
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 $519,966 in decade earnings vs $586,988 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Pacific Lutheran University a hidden gem for Communication and Media Studies?
After financial aid, the average student pays $85,480 over four years — 58% below the $203,856 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 →