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Communication and Media Studies at University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,993/yr (22% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #20 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 5%

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	$638K	$619K	$552K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.7x	11.4x	10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.9x	3.8x	3.4x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	54	53	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$54,504

Out-of-state: $164,380 (3.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$63,840

-17% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,910

5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$71,141

65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,993/yr, edging above the $35,147 national average for Communication and Media Studies — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 11.4x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $18,910 in median debt against $42,993 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #20 out of 613 programs, University of Arizona's Communication and Media Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $42,993 to $71,141 over five years (65% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Arizona

University of Arizona has a 86% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 40,769 in Tucson, AZ.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arizona →

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

Compare Communication and Media Studies

Other Majors at University of Arizona

Consider the Trade Route?

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 University of Arizona's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies graduates.

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.

Why does University of Arizona rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?

The #20 ranking out of 613 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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