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Communication and Media Studies at Utah State University

Logan, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
40
Optimistic
39
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,574/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #256 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 $464K $468K $443K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 12.7x 12.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 4.7x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 39 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,912
Out-of-state: $99,208 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,476
-39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,960
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Utah State University's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $37,574/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 12.7x 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 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,960 in median debt clears quickly against $37,574 in annual earnings.

Ranked #256 out of 613 programs, Utah State University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Utah State University

A 94% acceptance rate means Utah State University is accessible to most applicants, with 20,342 students enrolled in Logan, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at Utah State University →

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)

Other Majors at Utah State University

Public Health ($76,451) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,055) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($71,335) Mechanical Engineering ($69,406) Civil Engineering ($68,025) International Business ($65,745) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,486) Information Science/Studies ($61,896)

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 Utah State University's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 39/100 — 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 →