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Communication and Media Studies at Saint Michael's College

Colchester, VT · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,747/yr (-13% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 2.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #573 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	$562K	$553K	$504K
Earnings Multiple	2.8x	2.8x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	24	23	18

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$200,160

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$120,132

40% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,250

10.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,941

79% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Saint Michael's College's Communication and Media Studies program produces graduates earning $30,747/yr — within striking distance of the $35,147 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 2.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,250 debt-to-$30,747 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #573 out of 613 programs, Saint Michael's College's financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $30,747 to $54,941 over five years (79% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Saint Michael's College

A 92% acceptance rate means Saint Michael's College is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 1,157 students in Colchester, VT. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $120,132 — 40% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Saint Michael's College →

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

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Saint Michael's College

Consider the Trade Route?

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

How does Saint Michael's College's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 23/100 — on the lower end for Communication and Media Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →