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Communication and Media Studies at The Catholic University of America

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,259/yr (23% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 2.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #240 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	$632K	$614K	$548K
Earnings Multiple	2.8x	2.7x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	39	31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$223,336

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$131,192

41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$70,420

63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,259 at The Catholic University of America come in 23% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $43,259 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #240 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, The Catholic University of America scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $70,420 show a 63% jump from the $43,259 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America accepts 84% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,063 students in Washington, DC. After financial aid, the average student pays $131,192 over four years — 41% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at The Catholic University of America →

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 The Catholic University of America

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at The Catholic University of America?

A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Communication and Media Studies careers?

With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $548,323 in decade earnings vs $632,131 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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