Home › Colorado State University-Fort Collins › Communication and Media Studies

Communication and Media Studies at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,731/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 10.3x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #156 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 25%

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 $535K $529K $487K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.4x 10.3x 9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 3.9x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,584
Out-of-state: $135,004 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,328
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,306
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,731 at Colorado State University-Fort Collins come in 10% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

The 10.3x 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.

The $20,500 debt-to-$38,731 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #156 out of 613 programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Communication and Media Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $38,731 to $54,306 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 25,148 in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,856) Construction Engineering Technologies ($78,423) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,038) Civil Engineering ($73,326) Information Science/Studies ($67,827) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($66,109) Chemical Engineering ($62,468) Mechanical Engineering ($60,720)

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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.
Why does Colorado State University-Fort Collins rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?
The #156 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 →