Communication and Media Studies at Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,225/yr (17% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #428 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Communication and Media Studies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $488K $489K $458K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.4x 2.2x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$207,160
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$131,704
36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,236
15% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $41,225 at Westmont College come in 17% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

The financial case is thin at 2.4x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,250 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,225 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #428 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, Westmont College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $47,236 are relatively flat compared to the $41,225 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Westmont College

Westmont College accepts 80% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 1,310 students in Santa Barbara, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $131,704 over four years — 36% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Westmont College →

Top Career Paths

Public relations managers $138,520/yr
Fundraising managers $123,480/yr
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Westmont College?
A score of 30/100 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 $457,880 in decade earnings vs $488,140 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →