Home Schools Villanova University Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #183 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat Villanova University

Graduates earn $52,294/yr in their first year — about 49.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $618K; scenarios range from $552K to $637K depending on AI disruption.

Villanova, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
42 AVERAGE
43
Optimistic
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$52,294
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.9x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$618K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Villanova University

While a communication degree can be broad, Villanova's program acts as a direct pipeline into lucrative corporate and nonprofit roles. The university's powerful alumni network, especially in the finance and consulting hubs of Philadelphia and New York City, opens doors that are often closed to graduates from less-connected schools. You'll find that many students here aren't just studying media theory; they are gaining practical skills in strategic communication, public relations, and fundraising, often landing competitive internships with major firms in the region. This pre-professional focus, combined with the university's strong regional reputation, means you're not just earning a degree—you're being positioned for management-track careers from day one. To make the most of this, your top priority should be securing a high-quality junior-year internship; it's the single most important step toward validating this investment.

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
$552K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple2.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$618K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$637K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Villanova University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Villanova 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at Villanova University

How does Villanova University's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 42/100 — 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.