Home › Wheaton College › Communication and Media Studies

Communication and Media Studies at Wheaton College

Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,321/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #295 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 $593K $580K $524K
Earnings Multiple 3.4x 3.3x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$175,720
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,936
39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,267
61% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Wheaton College's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $39,321/yr — above the $35,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 3.3x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$39,321 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #295 out of 613 programs, Wheaton College's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $39,321 to $63,267 over five years (61% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Wheaton College

A 90% acceptance rate means Wheaton College is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 2,087 students in Wheaton, IL. The average net cost of $107,936 over four years represents a 39% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Wheaton College →

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 Wheaton College

Computer Science ($81,470) Economics ($62,889) Business/Managerial Economics ($55,300) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,714) Political Science and Government ($45,069) International Relations and National Security Studies ($40,084) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($37,025) English Language and Literature, General ($32,723)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wheaton College's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 36/100 — 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 →