Communication and Media Studiesat University of California-Berkeley
Graduates earn $43,696/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $771K; scenarios range from $662K to $812K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Berkeley
While the data shows strong earnings, your success here is less about the major itself and more about the Berkeley brand and your Bay Area location. You aren't just earning a Communication degree; you're gaining access to a powerful alumni network and recruiting pipelines that lead directly into Silicon Valley and San Francisco's top firms. Tech giants and disruptive startups alike need sharp storytellers for marketing, public relations, and internal communications roles — and they actively hire from Berkeley. Your classes will provide a strong theoretical foundation, but the real value comes from leveraging the university's reputation.
Our advice: Don't just complete the coursework. From day one, aggressively pursue internships in the tech or biotech sectors, even if they seem unrelated to your studies. The connections and real-world skills you build will determine your career trajectory far more than your transcript will.
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 UC Berkeley'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 UC Berkeley stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Berkeley
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Berkeley, 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 UC Berkeley
What does a 59/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at University of California-Berkeley?
At 59/100, University of California-Berkeley's Communication and Media Studies program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Communication and Media Studies at University of California-Berkeley?
The 55% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of California-Berkeley one of the best schools for Communication and Media Studies?
Among 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, University of California-Berkeley's #5 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.