Communication and Media Studiesat Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Graduates earn $44,309/yr in their first year — about 26.0% above the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $580K; scenarios range from $524K to $594K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Communication and Media Studies graduates command $44,309/yr out of the gate, well above the $35,147 national median. That 26% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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 12% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,500 in median debt clears quickly against $44,309 in annual earnings.
Ranked #57 of 613 programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Communication and Media Studies program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Earnings grow from $44,309 to $65,239 over five years — a 47% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 Virginia Tech'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 Virginia Tech stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Virginia Tech
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Virginia Tech, 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 Virginia Tech
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
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 $524,102 in decade earnings vs $593,570 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.