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Communication and Media Studies at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
55 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,598/yr (33% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 5%

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 $646K $626K $557K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.8x 10.5x 9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.5x 3.4x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 56 55 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$73,857
58% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $46,598 per year, Communication and Media Studies graduates from University of California-Santa Barbara significantly outpace the $35,147 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 10.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $13,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #11 out of 613 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Communication and Media Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $46,598 to $73,857 over five years (58% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

A 28% acceptance rate puts University of California-Santa Barbara in competitive admissions territory, with 23,205 students enrolled in Santa Barbara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →

Top Career Paths

Public relations managers $138,520/yr
Fundraising managers $123,480/yr
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 613 schools offering Communication and Media Studies →

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($62,183) Cornell University ($62,182) Ashford University ($58,089) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($57,782) Boston College ($55,162) University of Maryland Global Campus ($53,513) University of Pennsylvania ($53,022) Villanova University ($52,294)

Compare Communication and Media Studies

University of California-Santa Barbara vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo → University of California-Santa Barbara vs CUNY Graduate School and University Center → University of California-Santa Barbara vs University of Maryland Global Campus →

Other Majors at University of California-Santa Barbara

Computer Science ($107,776) Computer Engineering ($91,387) Mechanical Engineering ($81,108) Chemical Engineering ($79,737) Economics ($66,334) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,099) Applied Mathematics ($59,638) Statistics ($55,110)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Santa Barbara's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 55/100, 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.
Why does University of California-Santa Barbara rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?
The #11 ranking out of 613 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →