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Communication and Media Studies at Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
40
Optimistic
40
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,385/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 13.0x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #220 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 $582K $570K $517K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.3x 13.0x 11.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.2x 5.1x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 40 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)
$43,768
Out-of-state: $111,264 (5.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,532
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,681
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,251
88% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Kansas State University's Communication and Media Studies program produces graduates earning $30,385/yr — within striking distance of the $35,147 national average for this field.

The 13.0x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,681 debt-to-$30,385 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #220 out of 613 programs, Kansas State University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $30,385 to $57,251 over five years (88% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Kansas State University

A 79% acceptance rate means Kansas State University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 14,835 in Manhattan, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Kansas 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

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 Kansas State University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,758) Computer Engineering ($77,938) Industrial Engineering ($77,724) Chemical Engineering ($77,492) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($76,385) Agricultural and Food Products Processing ($76,052) Construction Engineering Technologies ($74,253) Architectural Engineering ($74,091)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Kansas State University's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 40/100 — 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 →