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Communication and Media Studies at California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
52 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,109/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 19.7x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #33 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 5%

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 $543K $537K $492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.9x 19.7x 18.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 7.2x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 53 52 45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,268
Out-of-state: $74,788 (7.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$39,168
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,429
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,106
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,109 at California State University-Channel Islands come in 14% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

The 19.7x 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 — 55% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $40,109 far exceeding the $13,429 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #33 out of 613 programs, California State University-Channel Islands's Communication and Media Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,109 to $56,106 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Channel Islands

California State University-Channel Islands accepts 93% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 5,230 students in Camarillo, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Channel Islands →

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 California State University-Channel Islands

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,484) Computer Science ($59,374) Economics ($57,440) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($47,581) Chemistry ($46,131) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($45,552) Biology, General ($38,344) Sociology ($36,557)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Channel Islands's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 52/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies graduates.
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.
Why does California State University-Channel Islands rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?
The #33 ranking out of 613 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →