Home › University of Hawaii at Manoa › Communication and Media Studies

Communication and Media Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,235/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 10.2x earnings multiple (3.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #388 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs

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	$500K	$499K	$466K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.3x	10.2x	9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.7x	3.6x	3.4x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	32	32	26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$48,744

Out-of-state: $136,872 (3.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$52,724

-8% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,522

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$46,146

53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,235/yr, roughly in line with the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.2x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $16,522 represents roughly 7 months of the $30,235 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #388 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, University of Hawaii at Manoa falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $46,146 show a 53% jump from the $30,235 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Hawaii at Manoa

A 70% admission rate makes University of Hawaii at Manoa accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 14,306 in Honolulu, HI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Hawaii at Manoa →

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 Hawaii at Manoa

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa?

A score of 32/100 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 $465,547 in decade earnings vs $500,345 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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