Communication and Media Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, HI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,235/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk
High (55% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
10.2x earnings multiple (3.6x 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 | $500K | $499K | $466K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.3x | 10.2x | 9.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.7x | 3.6x | 3.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 40% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 32 | 32 | 26 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$48,744
Out-of-state: $136,872 (3.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,522
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,146
53% growth from Year 1
About University of Hawaii at Manoa
A 70% admission rate makes University of Hawaii at Manoa accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 14,306 in Honolulu, HI.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Hawaii at Manoa →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 Hawaii at Manoa
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa?
A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Communication and Media Studies careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $465,547 in decade earnings vs $500,345 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →