Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
29
Optimistic
29
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,474/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Large (41,400 openings/yr)
ROI 11.2x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #74 of 103 Communication Disorders Sciences and Services programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Communication Disorders Sciences and Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $642K $641K $568K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.2x 11.2x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.3x 5.3x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 61% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 29 29 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,188
Out-of-state: $121,676 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,092
-3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,144
129% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $24,474/yr, roughly in line with the $25,392 national median for Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 11.2x 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 — 46% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$24,474 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #74 out of 103 programs, Wayne State University's financial outcomes for Communication Disorders Sciences and Services trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $24,474 to $56,144 over five years (129% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Wayne State University

Wayne State University accepts 82% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 15,676 students in Detroit, MI. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Wayne State University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Speech-language pathologists $95,410/yr
Audiologists $92,120/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Wayne State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wayne State University's Communication Disorders Sciences and Services program score?
This program scores 29/100 — on the lower end for Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Communication Disorders Sciences and Services to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Communication Disorders Sciences and Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →