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Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #8 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Graduates earn $50,556/yr in their first year — about 44.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $662K; scenarios range from $583K to $687K depending on AI disruption.

Ann Arbor, MI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
57 SOLID
58
Optimistic
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,556
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$662K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Michigan

While a communications degree can be a generalist credential, a diploma from Michigan is a powerful signal to employers. The strong earnings you see aren't just from the curriculum; they're driven by the university's elite reputation and vast, fiercely loyal alumni network that stretches from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. You won't just be competing for local jobs in Detroit's reviving ad scene; you'll be a top candidate for competitive corporate communications, consulting, and tech marketing roles in major hubs like Chicago and New York. This network effect is what elevates your career prospects far beyond a typical program. To maximize this advantage, your key task is to choose a specific career track early—be it brand strategy, political comms, or digital media—and aggressively pursue internships to build a specialized portfolio before you even graduate.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$583K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple8.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$662K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple9.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$687K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple10.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Michigan's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Communication and Media Studies graduates typically work

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.

1
Public relations managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 6,600 openings/yr
$138,520/yr
High
2
Fundraising managers
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$123,480/yr
High
3
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
4
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
5
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
6
Media and communication workers, all other
+2.7% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$71,770/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies

How University of Michigan stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
61
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Ashford University
CA · Private for-profit
47
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
NY · Public
61
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
19.7x
ROI
Boston College
MA · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Also at University of Michigan

Other top programs at University of Michigan

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Michigan, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at University of Michigan

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?

A score of 57/100 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 $582,779 in decade earnings vs $686,989 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Communication and Media Studies program stand out?

Ranked #8 of 613 programs nationally, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.