Home Schools Pepperdine University Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #277 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat Pepperdine University

Graduates earn $48,398/yr in their first year — about 38.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $582K; scenarios range from $525K to $595K depending on AI disruption.

Malibu, CA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
37 AT RISK
38
Optimistic
29
Pessimistic
Earnings
$48,398
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$582K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Pepperdine University

While a communications degree can be a generalist credential elsewhere, at Pepperdine it’s a direct pipeline into the high-stakes Los Angeles media and corporate world. Your impressive earnings outlook isn't just about the curriculum; it's about proximity and reputation. You'll be interning in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and "Silicon Beach," building a powerful professional network before you even graduate. Major entertainment studios, global PR firms, and luxury brands actively recruit here, seeking the polished communication skills the program is known for. This environment selects for and produces graduates who can navigate demanding corporate or agency settings. To maximize this advantage, you must aggressively pursue internships from your first year. Your goal isn't just a diploma, but a resume and a network that make you a valuable commodity in one of the world's most competitive markets.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$525K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score29/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$582K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple2.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$595K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple2.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Pepperdine University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Communication and Media Studies graduates typically work

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.

1
Public relations managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 6,600 openings/yr
$138,520/yr
High
2
Fundraising managers
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$123,480/yr
High
3
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
4
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
5
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
6
Media and communication workers, all other
+2.7% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$71,770/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies

How Pepperdine University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
61
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Same state (CA)
Ashford University
CA · Private for-profit
47
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
NY · Public
61
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
19.7x
ROI
Boston College
MA · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Also at Pepperdine University

Other top programs at Pepperdine University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Pepperdine 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at Pepperdine University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Pepperdine University?

A score of 37/100 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 $525,141 in decade earnings vs $595,223 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.