Home Schools University of Wisconsin-Superior Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #104 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat University of Wisconsin-Superior

Graduates earn $41,371/yr in their first year — about 18.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $497K; scenarios range from $464K to $498K depending on AI disruption.

Superior, WI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
47 AVERAGE
48
Optimistic
39
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,371
1-year post-graduation
ROI
13.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$497K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Wisconsin-Superior

First-year earnings of $41,371 at University of Wisconsin-Superior come in 18% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.6x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,371 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #104 of 613 nationally, this is a top-5% Communication and Media Studies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $48,972 are relatively flat compared to the $41,371 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

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
$464K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple13.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$497K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score47/100
Earnings Multiple14.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$498K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple14.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at University of Wisconsin-Superior

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Wisconsin-Superior, 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 Wisconsin-Superior

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

A score of 47/100 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 $463,981 in decade earnings vs $497,851 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Wisconsin-Superior's Communication and Media Studies program stand out?

Ranked #104 of 613 programs nationally, University of Wisconsin-Superior lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.