Communication and Media Studiesat University of Maryland Global Campus
Graduates earn $53,513/yr in their first year — about 52.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $599K; scenarios range from $538K to $615K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Maryland Global Campus
UMGC's high score reflects its unique student body and strategic location. Many of your classmates will be working professionals or military members using this degree to advance, not start, their careers. This real-world experience in the classroom creates a different, more applied learning environment than a traditional campus. You're also plugged into the massive Washington, D.C. metro job market, a hub for government agencies, contractors, and non-profits all needing skilled communicators. These employers value the practical, flexible education UMGC provides. Because many roles in this field face automation risk, your key to long-term success will be building a professional network. Proactively connect with your experienced peers and instructors; those relationships will be just as valuable as your diploma.
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 Maryland Global Campus'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 Maryland Global Campus stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Maryland Global Campus
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland Global Campus, 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 Maryland Global Campus
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at University of Maryland Global Campus?
A score of 63/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Communication and Media Studies field.
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 $537,579 in decade earnings vs $615,023 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Maryland Global Campus's Communication and Media Studies program stand out?
Ranked #1 of 613 programs nationally, University of Maryland Global Campus lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.