Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $33,190 track close to the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Communication and Media Studies programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Communication and Media Studies's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $21,360 represents roughly 8 months of the $33,190 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #327 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, University of Alabama at Birmingham falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $39,661 are relatively flat compared to the $33,190 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.