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Communication and Media Studies at California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
41
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,408/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 16.6x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #199 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 $513K $510K $473K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.7x 16.6x 15.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.6x 6.5x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 41 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,700
Out-of-state: $78,220 (6.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$23,672
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,135
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,810
51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $32,408/yr, Communication and Media Studies graduates from California State University-San Bernardino land near the $35,147 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 16.6x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,135 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #199 out of 613 programs, California State University-San Bernardino's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $32,408 to $48,810 over five years (51% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-San Bernardino

With 98% of applicants admitted, California State University-San Bernardino prioritizes broad access, enrolling 15,771 students in San Bernardino, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 57% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-San Bernardino →

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-San Bernardino

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($93,142) Physics ($57,114) Computer Engineering ($49,043) Computer Science ($45,846) Human Resources Management and Services ($45,144) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($42,180) Finance and Financial Management Services ($41,467) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($40,817)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-San Bernardino's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 41/100 — 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 →