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Communication and Media Studies at Texas A & M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,295/yr (23% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #56 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 10%

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	$577K	$566K	$513K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.0x	10.8x	9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.6x	3.5x	3.2x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	50	43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$52,396

Out-of-state: $161,312 (3.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$83,696

-60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,750

4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,316

44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $43,295/yr, edging above the $35,147 national average for Communication and Media Studies — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $15,750 in median debt against $43,295 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

A #56 ranking out of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs nationally puts Texas A & M University-College Station in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $43,295 to $62,316 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Texas A & M University-College Station

With a 63% acceptance rate, Texas A & M University-College Station is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 59,099 students in College Station, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas A & M University-College Station →

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 Texas A & M University-College Station

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Texas A & M University-College Station's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies graduates.

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 →