Communication and Media Studiesat Shepherd University
Graduates earn $23,653/yr in their first year — about 33.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $446K; scenarios range from $427K to $439K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Shepherd University
While the career paths listed represent high-paying national roles, your immediate post-graduation landscape will likely be shaped by the regional economy of West Virginia and the surrounding D.C. commuter belt. The lower earnings data reflects that many graduates take on vital communication roles in local government, small businesses, and non-profits, which offer valuable experience but not the high salaries found in major metropolitan media hubs. Your competition isn’t just from other Shepherd grads, but from the dense concentration of universities in the nearby D.C. and Baltimore markets.
To overcome this, your key advantage is proximity. You must aggressively pursue internships in the D.C. area during your junior and senior years. A strong portfolio built on real-world D.C. experience will be the single most important factor in landing a higher-paying first job and launching a career that can reach those national salary levels.
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 Shepherd 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 Shepherd University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Shepherd University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Shepherd 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 Shepherd University
How does Shepherd University's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 24/100 — 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.
Why are Communication and Media Studies earnings lower at Shepherd University?
Lower starting pay at Shepherd University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.