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Communication and Media Studies at University of Michigan-Dearborn

Dearborn, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,735/yr (-10% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 8.9x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #343 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	$538K	$532K	$489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.0x	8.9x	8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.3x	4.2x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	35	34	28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$59,776

Out-of-state: $125,440 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$43,616

27% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

8.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,201

64% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,735 track close to the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 8.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,500 debt-to-$31,735 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #343 out of 613 programs, University of Michigan-Dearborn's financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $31,735 to $52,201 over five years (64% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Michigan-Dearborn

With a 59% acceptance rate, University of Michigan-Dearborn is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 5,882 in Dearborn, MI. Pell Grant recipients make up 44% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Michigan-Dearborn →

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 Michigan-Dearborn

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

How does University of Michigan-Dearborn's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 34/100 — on the lower end for Communication and Media Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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.

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