Communication and Media Studies at University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,695/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk
High (55% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
18.1x earnings multiple (5.8x 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 | $536K | $530K | $488K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.3x | 18.1x | 16.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.8x | 5.8x | 5.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 40% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 49 | 48 | 41 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,268
Out-of-state: $91,940 (5.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,772
47% growth from Year 1
About University of North Carolina Wilmington
With 74% of applicants admitted, University of North Carolina Wilmington prioritizes broad access, serving 14,176 students in Wilmington, NC.
See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina Wilmington →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 North Carolina Wilmington
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 North Carolina Wilmington?
A score of 48/100 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 $487,633 in decade earnings vs $535,505 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of North Carolina Wilmington's Communication and Media Studies program stand out?
Ranked #84 of 613 programs nationally, University of North Carolina Wilmington 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 →