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Communications · Communication & Journalism (Other) Rank #10 of 16

Communication & Journalism (Other)at Tennessee Technological University

Graduates earn $28,828/yr in their first year — about 17.0% below the national Communication & Journalism (Other) average. Base-case 10-year earnings $515K; scenarios range from $474K to $519K depending on AI disruption.

Cookeville, TN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
30 AT RISK
30
Optimistic
23
Pessimistic
Earnings
$28,828
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$515K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
64% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Tennessee Technological University

While this program scores well for its value, your earnings potential is heavily shaped by its location in Cookeville. Unlike programs in major media hubs, TTU graduates often start their careers in smaller regional markets across Tennessee and the South, where the cost of living is lower but so are starting salaries in communications, marketing, or local journalism. This can be a great fit if you plan to stay and work in the region. The curriculum provides a broad, versatile foundation rather than a hyper-specialized track, preparing you for a variety of roles from corporate communications to content creation. To counter the high AI risk in this field, your key action is to aggressively build a portfolio of uniquely human skills—think video production, podcasting, or strategic community management—through internships and campus media before you 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
$474K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score23/100
Earnings Multiple11.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$515K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score30/100
Earnings Multiple12.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$519K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score30/100
Earnings Multiple12.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Communication & Journalism (Other) 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
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
2
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
3
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
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 & Journalism (Other)

How Tennessee Technological University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Wisconsin Lutheran College
WI · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
MN · Public
37
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
5.7x
ROI
Ohio State University-Main Campus
OH · Public
41
DW Score
$41K
1-yr earn
9.6x
ROI
Grand Valley State University
MI · Public
38
DW Score
$40K
1-yr earn
7.9x
ROI
University of Nebraska at Omaha
NE · Public
38
DW Score
$39K
1-yr earn
10.8x
ROI
Also at Tennessee Technological University

Other top programs at Tennessee Technological University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Tennessee Technological University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communication & Journalism (Other) offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Communication & Journalism (Other) trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication & Journalism (Other) at Tennessee Technological University

How does Tennessee Technological University's Communication & Journalism (Other) program score?

This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Communication & Journalism (Other). Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Communication & Journalism (Other) to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Communication & Journalism (Other) careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 65% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Communication & Journalism (Other) earnings lower at Tennessee Technological University?

Lower starting pay at Tennessee Technological University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.