Communications & Media Studies: Brigham Young University-Idaho vs University of Maryland Global Campus

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
19.9x
$18,624 tuition
16.7x
$31,968 tuition
Out-of-State
19.9x
$18,624 tuition
10.8x
$49,344 tuition
$36,941/yr starting · Private nonprofit
$53,513/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

Brigham Young University-Idaho University of Maryland Global Campus
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.9x 16.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 19.9x 10.8x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $18,624 $31,968
Year 1 Earnings $36,941 $53,513
10-Year Earnings $370K $534K
Median Debt $12,500 $23,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 4.1 months 5.2 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 62/100 69/100

Both programs have high AI automation risk (55% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Communications & Media Studies graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Communications & Media Studies graduates.

Brigham Young University-Idaho University of Maryland Global Campus
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $18,624 $31,968
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $18,624 $49,344
10-Year Projected Earnings $370K $534K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.9x 16.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 19.9x 10.8x
5-Year Salary Growth +35% +34%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Communications & Media Studies (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Brigham Young University-Idaho University of Maryland Global Campus
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $530K $370K $255K $758K $534K $370K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 28.4x 19.9x 13.7x 23.7x 16.7x 11.6x
DegreeWorth Score 65 62 56 72 69 63

For the full AI analysis of Communications & Media Studies career paths, see the Brigham Young University-Idaho or University of Maryland Global Campus program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Communications & Media Studies graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$13,344
Brigham Young University-Idaho saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$16,572/yr
University of Maryland Global Campus grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
19.9x / 16.7x
Out-of-state: 19.9x / 10.8x

Career Paths

Communications & Media Studies graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Public relations managers $138,520 6,600 +5.0% 55%
Fundraising managers $123,480 3,600 +4.2% 56%
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800 2,700 +2.1% 43%
Editors $75,260 9,800 +0.6% 65%
Writers and authors $72,270 13,400 +3.6% 89%
Media and communication workers, all other $71,770 3,000 +2.7% 0%
Public relations specialists $69,780 27,600 +4.8% 59%
Fundraisers $66,490 10,200 +4.3% 52%

Explore Each Program

More Communications & Media Studies Comparisons

Communications & Media Studies Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Communications & Media Studies: Brigham Young University-Idaho or University of Maryland Global Campus?
Brigham Young University-Idaho scores 62/100 while University of Maryland Global Campus scores 69/100. Brigham Young University-Idaho has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Communications & Media Studies?
Brigham Young University-Idaho has an in-state earnings multiple of 19.9x vs University of Maryland Global Campus's 16.7x. That means Brigham Young University-Idaho grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Brigham Young University-Idaho and University of Maryland Global Campus compare on Communications & Media Studies earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $36,941 at Brigham Young University-Idaho vs $53,513 at University of Maryland Global Campus. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $370,233 vs $533,775 — a difference of $163,542.
How much does Communications & Media Studies cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $18,624 at Brigham Young University-Idaho and $31,968 at University of Maryland Global Campus. Median debt at graduation is $12,500 vs $23,000. Both programs lead to the same Communications & Media Studies career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.