Communication and Media Studiesat Vermont State University
Graduates earn $21,028/yr in their first year — about 40.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $392K; scenarios range from $388K to $377K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Vermont State University
While the national salary data for communications roles looks impressive, your earnings reality will be shaped by Vermont's unique economy. VSU is deeply connected to the state, meaning many graduates find work locally. Unlike major metro areas with corporate headquarters, Vermont’s job market is driven by smaller businesses, nonprofits, tourism, and state government. A communications job here might mean running social media for a ski resort or managing fundraising for a local environmental group, rather than climbing the ladder at a multinational PR firm in Boston or New York. These are often fulfilling roles with great work-life balance, but they operate on a different salary scale.
Your key to maximizing this degree is to build a strong professional network *before* you graduate. Actively seek internships in Burlington, Montpelier, or even across the river in New Hampshire to gain practical experience and make connections.
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 Vermont State University'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 Vermont State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Vermont State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Vermont State University, 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 Vermont State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Vermont State University?
A score of 23/100 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 $387,885 in decade earnings vs $376,703 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Communication and Media Studies from Vermont State University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.