Communication and Media Studies at University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,046/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk
High (55% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
10.1x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
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 | $635K | $616K | $550K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.4x | 10.1x | 9.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.4x | 3.3x | 3.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 40% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 43 | 42 | 36 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,060
Out-of-state: $184,168 (3.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,193
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,361
98% growth from Year 1
About University of California-San Diego
A 25% acceptance rate puts University of California-San Diego in competitive admissions territory, with 33,787 students enrolled in La Jolla, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-San Diego →Top Career Paths
Public relations managers
$138,520/yr
Fundraising managers
$123,480/yr
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of California-San Diego
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of California-San Diego's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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 →