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Communication and Media Studies at The University of Montana

Missoula, MT · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,377/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 15.4x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #208 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 50%

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 $502K $501K $467K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.4x 15.4x 14.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 4.0x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 41 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,608
Out-of-state: $126,488 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,472
-110% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,687
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,859
39% growth from Year 1

About The University of Montana

The University of Montana accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 7,079 students in Missoula, MT.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Montana →

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

Compare this program → View all 613 schools offering Communication and Media Studies →

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($62,183) Cornell University ($62,182) Ashford University ($58,089) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($57,782) Boston College ($55,162) University of Maryland Global Campus ($53,513) University of Pennsylvania ($53,022) Villanova University ($52,294)

Other Majors at The University of Montana

Management Information Systems and Services ($54,816) Accounting and Related Services ($47,164) Biology, General ($43,914) Sociology ($39,160) Political Science and Government ($38,094) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($37,784) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($36,142) Journalism ($35,924)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

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 The University of Montana's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 41/100 — 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 →