Home › University of North Dakota › Communication and Media Studies

Communication and Media Studies at University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,963/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (8.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #182 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 50%

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	$543K	$536K	$492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.4x	12.2x	11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.7x	8.6x	7.9x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	42	35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,804

Out-of-state: $62,280 (8.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,992

-73% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

7.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,177

55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of North Dakota's Communication and Media Studies program produces graduates earning $34,963/yr — within striking distance of the $35,147 national average for this field.

The 12.2x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$34,963 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #182 out of 613 programs, University of North Dakota's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $34,963 to $54,177 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of North Dakota

A 77% acceptance rate means University of North Dakota is accessible to most applicants, serving 9,296 students in Grand Forks, ND.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Dakota →

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 North Dakota

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 North Dakota's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Communication and Media Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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 →