Communication and Media Studiesat University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Graduates earn $41,138/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $518K; scenarios range from $479K to $522K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Cincinnati
First-year earnings of $41,138 at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus come in 17% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.
At 9.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.
AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $21,644 debt-to-$41,138 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #163 out of 613 programs, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $41,138 to $52,971 shows 29% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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 Cincinnati'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 Cincinnati stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Cincinnati
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati
How does University of Cincinnati-Main Campus's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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.