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Communication and Media Studies at Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,917/yr (-21% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 16.3x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #242 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	$562K	$553K	$504K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.6x	16.3x	14.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	5.8x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	39	39	34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$33,912

Out-of-state: $94,836 (5.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$63,724

-88% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,254

10.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,345

91% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $27,917/yr fall 21% below the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 16.3x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,254 debt-to-$27,917 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #242 out of 613 programs, Georgia State University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $27,917 to $53,345 over five years (91% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Georgia State University

With a 62% acceptance rate, Georgia State University is moderately selective, serving a student body of 27,109 in Atlanta, GA. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Georgia State 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

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Georgia State University

Consider the Trade Route?

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 Georgia State University's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 39/100 — 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 are Communication and Media Studies earnings lower at Georgia State University?

Lower starting pay at Georgia State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →