Communication and Media Studiesat University of Southern California
Graduates earn $47,651/yr in their first year — about 36.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $646K; scenarios range from $571K to $668K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Southern California
The numbers here reflect a powerful combination of elite academics and prime location. You aren't just earning a communication degree; you're earning it from USC's Annenberg School, a globally recognized brand, in the heart of the world's entertainment and media capital. This provides direct access to internships and recruiting pipelines at major studios, top-tier PR agencies like Edelman, and tech giants in Silicon Beach. The famed "Trojan Family" alumni network is a tangible asset, actively opening doors for graduates in a competitive industry. While AI poses a threat to routine communication tasks, your USC education will focus on the strategic, creative, and leadership skills that are harder to automate. Your key action item: leverage your location. Secure at least two high-profile LA internships before you graduate to translate your prestigious degree into a powerful career launch.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Southern California's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies
How University of Southern California stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Southern California
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Southern California, 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 →Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at University of Southern California
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at University of Southern California?
A score of 41/100 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 $571,079 in decade earnings vs $668,361 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is University of Southern California a hidden gem for Communication and Media Studies?
After financial aid, the average student pays $127,708 over four years — 53% below the $272,948 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.