Home › American University › Communication and Media Studies

Communication and Media Studies at American University

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
37
Optimistic
37
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,980/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #278 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 50%

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 $695K $669K $588K
Earnings Multiple 3.1x 3.0x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 37 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$226,172
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$167,780
26% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,611
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,154
103% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

American University's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $36,980/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.0x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,611 debt-to-$36,980 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #278 out of 613 programs, American University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $36,980 to $75,154 over five years (103% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About American University

American University's 47% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 7,593 in Washington, DC.

See all programs and financial aid at American University →

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

Compare this program → View all 613 schools offering Communication and Media Studies →

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($62,183) Cornell University ($62,182) Ashford University ($58,089) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($57,782) Boston College ($55,162) University of Maryland Global Campus ($53,513) University of Pennsylvania ($53,022) Villanova University ($52,294)

Other Majors at American University

Finance and Financial Management Services ($83,505) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($58,299) Economics ($58,151) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($55,625) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($50,026) Political Science and Government ($48,034) International Relations and National Security Studies ($47,551) Natural Resources Conservation and Research ($46,780)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 American University's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 37/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →