Home › University of Iowa › Communication and Media Studies

Communication and Media Studies at University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
50
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,647/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 13.4x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #49 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 10%

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 $603K $589K $530K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.8x 13.4x 12.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 4.5x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 50 42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,856
Out-of-state: $131,708 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,592
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,850
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,848
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,647/yr, edging above the $35,147 national average for Communication and Media Studies — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 13.4x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,850 debt-to-$37,647 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #49 ranking out of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs nationally puts University of Iowa in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $37,647 to $63,848 over five years (70% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Iowa

University of Iowa has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 21,691 students in Iowa City, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Iowa →

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)

Other Majors at University of Iowa

Computer Engineering ($79,228) Industrial Engineering ($75,699) Chemical Engineering ($75,340) Statistics ($75,095) Mechanical Engineering ($71,732) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($70,686) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($70,324) Civil Engineering ($70,313)

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 Iowa's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 50/100, 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →