Communication and Media Studiesat The University of Texas Permian Basin
Graduates earn $46,203/yr in their first year — about 31.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $531K; scenarios range from $489K to $537K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Texas Permian Basin
The strong earnings for this program aren't about national prestige; they're about local opportunity. Your degree is located in the heart of the Permian Basin, one of the world's most productive oil and gas fields. This means your communication skills are in high demand not by typical media companies, but by the massive energy corporations and service firms that dominate the regional economy. You'll find yourself prepared for well-paying roles in corporate communications, public relations, and community outreach for an industry that needs to manage its public image. The career path here is less about creative agencies and more about navigating the complex messaging needs of a powerful, established industry. To maximize this advantage, seek internships with local energy companies to build a network and prove you understand the unique communication challenges of the sector.
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 University of Texas Permian Basin'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 University of Texas Permian Basin stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Texas Permian Basin
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Texas Permian Basin, 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 University of Texas Permian Basin
How does The University of Texas Permian Basin's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 51/100, 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.