Home › University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill › Communication and Media Studies

Communication and Media Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,348/yr (23% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 16.6x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #9 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 $612K $596K $535K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.0x 16.6x 14.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.9x 3.8x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,956
Out-of-state: $157,320 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,932
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,625
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,532
56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $43,348/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.6x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,625 in median debt clears quickly against $43,348 in annual earnings.

Ranked #9 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs nationally, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $67,532 show a 56% jump from the $43,348 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Admission to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is competitive, with 19% of applicants accepted, with 20,556 students enrolled in Chapel Hill, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →

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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo → University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs CUNY Graduate School and University Center → University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs University of Maryland Global Campus →

Other Majors at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Computer Science ($90,293) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($85,618) Information Science/Studies ($75,834) Applied Mathematics ($75,105) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,594) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($70,561) Economics ($65,344) Physics ($62,647)

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
A score of 57/100 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 $535,419 in decade earnings vs $611,587 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Communication and Media Studies program stand out?
Ranked #9 of 613 programs nationally, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →