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Communication and Media Studies at Plymouth State University

Plymouth, NH · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,293/yr (-11% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #161 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	$683K	$658K	$580K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.7x	11.3x	10.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.7x	6.5x	5.7x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	43	37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$58,232

Out-of-state: $101,992 (6.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$78,740

-35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

10.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$69,796

123% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $31,293/yr, Communication and Media Studies graduates from Plymouth State University land near the $35,147 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 11.3x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$31,293 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #161 out of 613 programs, Plymouth State University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $31,293 to $69,796 over five years (123% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Plymouth State University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Plymouth State University prioritizes broad access, a compact campus enrolling 3,298 students in Plymouth, NH.

See all programs and financial aid at Plymouth 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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Plymouth State University'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.

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