Home Schools University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #26 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Graduates earn $45,009/yr in their first year — about 28.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $540K; scenarios range from $495K to $547K depending on AI disruption.

Norman, OK Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
53 AVERAGE
54
Optimistic
45
Pessimistic
Earnings
$45,009
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$540K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Graduates of University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus's Communication and Media Studies program earn $45,009/yr in their first year — 28% above the $35,147 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Communication and Media Studies programs nationally.

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.

At $21,500 in median debt against $45,009 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #26 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 $45,009 to $58,176 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

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
$495K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple12.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$540K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple14.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$547K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple14.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus'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 Oklahoma-Norman Campus 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 Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Other top programs at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Oklahoma-Norman 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus?

A score of 53/100 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 $495,010 in decade earnings vs $547,251 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus's Communication and Media Studies program stand out?

Ranked #26 of 613 programs nationally, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.