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Communication and Media Studies at Radford University

Radford, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,038/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 10.7x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #169 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	$532K	$527K	$485K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.8x	10.7x	9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.3x	5.2x	4.8x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	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)

$49,144

Out-of-state: $100,740 (5.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$66,560

-35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,692

41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Radford University's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $38,038/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 10.7x 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 $25,000 debt-to-$38,038 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #169 out of 613 programs, Radford University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $38,038 to $53,692 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Radford University

A 91% acceptance rate means Radford University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 5,609 students in Radford, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Radford 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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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 Radford 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 →