Communication & Media at Community College of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA · Public · Associate Degree · Communication and Media Studies

with a mid-sized student body of 11,312 in Philadelphia, PA.

Program Analysis

At $24,794/yr, Communication & Media graduates from Community College of Philadelphia land near the $28,401 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 39.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 55% of job tasks, producing a 34% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

The median debt load of $10,125 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #11 out of 16 programs, Community College of Philadelphia's financial outcomes for Communication & Media trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $24,794 to $36,157 shows 46% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

One registered apprenticeship pathway (Public Affairs (Military Only) with a median wage of $69,780/yr) connects to Communication & Media careers, offering a paid training alternative to the classroom model.

41 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
34
Low End
41
Score
45
High End
Earnings $24,794/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (45% shielded)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$393K
9.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
42.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
10 of 10
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,264
Out-of-state: $24,880
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,125
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,157
46% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Communication & Media graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Public relations managers $138,520 +5.0% 45%
Fundraising managers $123,480 +4.2% 44%
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800 +2.1% 57%
Public relations managers
$138,520
+5.0% growth 45% AI-proof
Fundraising managers
$123,480
+4.2% growth 44% AI-proof
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800
+2.1% growth 57% AI-proof

View all 10 career paths with full salary data →

Communication & Media Career Guide

Explore what Communication & Media graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 16 programs nationwide.

Read the full Communication & Media career guide →

Compare & Explore

Communication & Media Overview

Communication & Media at Other Schools

Other Majors at Community College of Philadelphia

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 41/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Communication & Media at Community College of Philadelphia?
A score of 41/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication & Media. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI affect Communication & Media careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $259,400 in decade earnings vs $393,090 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How many job openings are there for Communication & Media graduates?
With approximately 83,300 annual openings across mapped careers, Communication & Media offers a large employment pool. Community College of Philadelphia graduates enter a market shaped by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →