Home › University of Arkansas › Communication and Media Studies

Communication and Media Studies at University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,095/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #35 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 10%

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	$577K	$566K	$513K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.8x	14.5x	13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	4.9x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	51	44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,992

Out-of-state: $115,088 (4.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$70,100

-80% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,155

53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $40,095 per year, Communication and Media Studies graduates from University of Arkansas earn slightly above the $35,147 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Communication and Media Studies programs nationally.

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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #35 of 613 programs, University of Arkansas's Communication and Media Studies program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $61,155 show a 53% jump from the $40,095 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Arkansas

With 72% of applicants admitted, University of Arkansas prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 27,312 students in Fayetteville, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arkansas →

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 University of Arkansas

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 University of Arkansas?

A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Communication and Media Studies field.

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 $513,468 in decade earnings vs $576,640 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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