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Communication and Media Studies at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

La Crosse, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,293/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 14.2x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #58 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 10%

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	$556K	$548K	$501K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.4x	14.2x	13.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.4x	7.3x	6.7x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	50	43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,604

Out-of-state: $74,764 (7.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$61,496

-59% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,906

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,179

44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,293/yr, edging above the $35,147 national average for Communication and Media Studies — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.2x 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.

Median debt of $21,906 represents roughly 7 months of the $40,293 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #58 of 613 programs, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Communication and Media Studies program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $40,293 to $58,179 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has a 73% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 9,194 in La Crosse, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse →

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 Wisconsin-La Crosse

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?

A score of 50/100 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 $500,675 in decade earnings vs $556,271 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →