Communication and Media Studiesat The University of Texas at El Paso
Graduates earn $23,766/yr in their first year — about 32.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $404K; scenarios range from $397K to $391K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UTEP
While the national salary figures for communication careers look promising, your earnings potential with this degree is heavily tied to the local El Paso job market. UTEP serves as a vital engine for the regional economy, and many graduates find roles supporting local government, school districts, healthcare systems, and cross-border businesses. These are important community-focused positions, but they often don't command the high salaries found in major media hubs like Austin or New York City. The career paths you see are achievable, but reaching those top-tier salaries will likely require relocating after graduation or building a freelance career with clients in higher-paying markets. Your key action item: aggressively pursue internships with national companies that have a local presence to build a network beyond the immediate region before you even graduate.
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 UTEP'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 UTEP stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UTEP
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UTEP, 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 UTEP
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at The University of Texas at El Paso?
A score of 25/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Communication and Media Studies careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $396,977 in decade earnings vs $391,172 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Communication and Media Studies from The University of Texas at El Paso?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.