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Communication and Media Studies at University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Bothell, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
54 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
55
Optimistic
54
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,638/yr (27% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (3.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #17 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 5%

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 $613K $597K $536K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 11.9x 10.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.7x 3.6x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 55 54 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,236
Out-of-state: $167,652 (3.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$43,592
13% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,260
53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,638 put University of Washington-Bothell Campus's Communication and Media Studies program 27% above the national median of $35,147 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 11.9x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $44,638 far exceeding the $15,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #17 out of 613 programs, University of Washington-Bothell Campus's Communication and Media Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $44,638 to $68,260 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Washington-Bothell Campus

University of Washington-Bothell Campus accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 5,228 students in Bothell, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Washington-Bothell Campus →

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

Compare this program → View all 613 schools offering Communication and Media Studies →

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($62,183) Cornell University ($62,182) Ashford University ($58,089) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($57,782) Boston College ($55,162) University of Maryland Global Campus ($53,513) University of Pennsylvania ($53,022) Villanova University ($52,294)

Compare Communication and Media Studies

University of Washington-Bothell Campus vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo → University of Washington-Bothell Campus vs CUNY Graduate School and University Center → University of Washington-Bothell Campus vs University of Maryland Global Campus →

Other Majors at University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Computer Engineering ($141,588) Computer Science ($128,887) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($86,212) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($81,989) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($73,385) Mechanical Engineering ($66,947) Accounting and Related Services ($62,731) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($62,069)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Washington-Bothell Campus's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies graduates.
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.
Why does University of Washington-Bothell Campus rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?
The #17 ranking out of 613 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →