Home › Utah Valley University › Communication and Media Studies

Communication and Media Studies at Utah Valley University

Orem, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,202/yr (26% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 22.2x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #10 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 5%

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	$566K	$557K	$507K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	22.6x	22.2x	20.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.9x	7.8x	7.1x
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)

$25,080

Out-of-state: $71,320 (7.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$33,852

-35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,942

3.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,012

38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Utah Valley University's Communication and Media Studies program earn $44,202/yr in their first year — 26% above the $35,147 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 22.2x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $13,942 in median debt against $44,202 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #10 out of 613 programs, Utah Valley University's Communication and Media Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,202 to $61,012 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Utah Valley University

with 27,481 students enrolled in Orem, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at Utah Valley 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

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Compare Communication and Media Studies

Other Majors at Utah Valley University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Utah Valley University'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 Utah Valley University rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?

The #10 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 →