Home Schools Prairie View A & M University Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #571 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat Prairie View A & M University

Graduates earn $22,269/yr in their first year — about 37.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $470K; scenarios range from $444K to $467K depending on AI disruption.

Prairie View, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
23 AT RISK
23
Optimistic
20
Pessimistic
Earnings
$22,269
1-year post-graduation
ROI
7.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$470K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Prairie View A & M University

While the raw earnings data may seem concerning, it reflects a specific regional and career landscape. Prairie View is located outside the major Houston media market, meaning many graduates find their first roles in local government, smaller non-profits, or community-focused organizations rather than high-paying corporate PR firms in the city center. This major provides a broad, versatile skillset, but its value is unlocked through practical experience. The career paths you see, like fundraising or PR manager, are senior roles you grow into, not starting positions. Your immediate goal should be to bridge the gap between campus and the Houston professional world. To overcome the location challenge, you must be aggressive in seeking internships, freelance projects, and networking opportunities in Houston throughout your degree, building a strong portfolio before you even graduate.

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
$444K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score20/100
Earnings Multiple9.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$470K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score23/100
Earnings Multiple10.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$467K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score23/100
Earnings Multiple10.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Prairie View A & M 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 Prairie View A & M 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
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 Prairie View A & M University

Other top programs at Prairie View A & M University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Prairie View A & M 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 Prairie View A & M University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Prairie View A & M University?

A score of 23/100 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 Prairie View A & M University worth the student debt?

Median debt of $27,750 against $22,269/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 $444,449 in decade earnings vs $466,757 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Communication and Media Studies from Prairie View A & M 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.