Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $33,475 track close to the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Communication and Media Studies programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Communication and Media Studies's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $22,995 represents roughly 8 months of the $33,475 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #243 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, Idaho State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $33,475 to $46,495 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.