Communications & Media Studies: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs Kennesaw State University
Head-to-Head
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Kennesaw State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.7x | 18.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.5x | 6.1x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $44,300 | $23,144 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $62,183 | $43,420 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $561K | $418K |
| Median Debt | $14,857 | $26,988 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 2.9 months | 7.5 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 68/100 | 66/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 29.8% | 69.2% |
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.
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Kennesaw State University | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $44,300 | $23,144 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $123,980 | $68,160 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $561K | $418K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.7x | 18.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.5x | 6.1x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +8% | +24% |
"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.
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Kennesaw State University | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $677K | $561K | $429K | $561K | $418K | $300K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 15.3x | 12.7x | 9.7x | 24.3x | 18.1x | 13.0x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 69 | 68 | 63 | 68 | 66 | 60 |
For the full AI analysis of Communications & Media Studies career paths, see the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Kennesaw State University program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Communications & Media Studies graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
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% |