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Communication and Media Studies at University of Wisconsin-River Falls

River Falls, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,309/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 14.9x earnings multiple (7.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #118 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 25%

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	$516K	$513K	$476K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.0x	14.9x	13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.6x	7.6x	7.0x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	46	39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$34,424

Out-of-state: $67,548 (7.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,856

-71% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

6.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,308

34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,309 at University of Wisconsin-River Falls come in 9% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

The 14.9x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$38,309 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #118 out of 613 programs, University of Wisconsin-River Falls's Communication and Media Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $38,309 to $51,308 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-River Falls

University of Wisconsin-River Falls accepts 82% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 4,152 students in River Falls, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-River Falls →

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-River Falls

Explore the Trade Alternative

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 Wisconsin-River Falls's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 46/100 — 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.

Why does University of Wisconsin-River Falls rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?

The #118 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 →