Communication and Media Studiesat Santa Clara University
Graduates earn $51,720/yr in their first year — about 47.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $620K; scenarios range from $552K to $639K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Santa Clara University
The exceptional earnings for Santa Clara graduates aren't just about the major; they're about location. You're studying communication in the heart of Silicon Valley, surrounded by the world's most valuable tech companies. Your classmates' parents are executives, your professors consult for startups, and your internship opportunities are at places like NVIDIA, Apple, or Google. While a communication degree elsewhere might lead to local news or nonprofit work, here it's a direct pipeline into high-paying corporate communications, public relations, and marketing roles within the tech industry. The curriculum is likely tailored to these demands, focusing on digital media and strategic messaging for a global audience. Your key to unlocking this potential is networking. Go to every on-campus recruiting event and leverage the powerful alumni network from day one; it's your biggest asset.
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 Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Santa Clara University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara University
What does a 44/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at Santa Clara University?
At 44/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Communication and Media Studies programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Communication and Media Studies at Santa Clara University?
The 55% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Santa Clara University one of the best schools for Communication and Media Studies?
Among 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, Santa Clara University's #131 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.