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Communication and Media Studies at University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,696/yr (24% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 1%

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 $670K $647K $572K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.6x 14.1x 12.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.0x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$46,020
Out-of-state: $161,224 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,360
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,250
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,778
73% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Maryland-College Park's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $43,696/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 14.1x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,250 in median debt clears quickly against $43,696 in annual earnings.

A #7 ranking out of 613 programs puts University of Maryland-College Park in the top 1% for Communication and Media Studies. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

Earnings growth from $43,696 to $75,778 over five years (73% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Maryland-College Park

University of Maryland-College Park's 45% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 30,246 in College Park, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Maryland-College Park →

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

Compare this program → View all 613 schools offering Communication and Media Studies →

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($62,183) Cornell University ($62,182) Ashford University ($58,089) CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($57,782) Boston College ($55,162) University of Maryland Global Campus ($53,513) University of Pennsylvania ($53,022) Villanova University ($52,294)

Compare Communication and Media Studies

University of Maryland-College Park vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo → University of Maryland-College Park vs CUNY Graduate School and University Center → University of Maryland-College Park vs University of Maryland Global Campus →

Other Majors at University of Maryland-College Park

Computer Science ($99,756) Computer Engineering ($95,847) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($85,500) Chemical Engineering ($81,777) Engineering, Other ($80,931) Mathematics ($79,129) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($78,631) Civil Engineering ($76,731)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Maryland-College Park's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 57/100, 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 Maryland-College Park rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?
The #7 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 →