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Communication and Media Studies at University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,311/yr (12% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #158 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	$534K	$528K	$486K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.1x	10.0x	9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.0x	4.0x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	44	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)

$52,848

Out-of-state: $133,624 (4.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,872

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

6.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,361

38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,311 at University of Kentucky come in 12% above the national median of $35,147 for Communication and Media Studies programs.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 10.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,311 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #158 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, University of Kentucky scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $39,311 to $54,361 over five years — a 38% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 23,189 students enrolled in Lexington, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kentucky →

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 Kentucky

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 Kentucky?

A score of 43/100 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 $486,486 in decade earnings vs $533,681 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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