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Communication and Media Studies at University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,706/yr (13% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 9.6x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #124 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 25%

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	$556K	$547K	$500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.7x	9.6x	8.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.0x	6.9x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	45	37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$57,272

Out-of-state: $79,048 (6.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$73,856

-29% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,852

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$57,878

46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Minnesota-Duluth's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $39,706/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Communication and Media Studies's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,852 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,706 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #124 of 613 nationally, this is a top-5% Communication and Media Studies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $39,706 to $57,878 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Minnesota-Duluth

A 82% acceptance rate means University of Minnesota-Duluth is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 7,475 in Duluth, MN.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Minnesota-Duluth →

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

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Minnesota-Duluth

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 Minnesota-Duluth?

A score of 45/100 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 $500,272 in decade earnings vs $555,631 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Minnesota-Duluth's Communication and Media Studies program stand out?

Ranked #124 of 613 programs nationally, University of Minnesota-Duluth lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →