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Communication and Media Studies at CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $57,782/yr (64% vs median)
AI Risk High (55% exposed)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI 18.3x earnings multiple (8.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #4 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 1%

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 $551K $543K $497K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.6x 18.3x 16.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.0x 8.8x 8.1x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 40% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,640
Out-of-state: $61,440 (8.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,901
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,361
6% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of CUNY Graduate School and University Center's Communication and Media Studies program earn $57,782/yr in their first year — 64% above the $35,147 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 18.3x 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 $12,901 in median debt against $57,782 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

A #4 ranking out of 613 programs puts CUNY Graduate School and University Center in the top 1% for Communication and Media Studies. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

Earnings growth is modest: $57,782 to $61,361 over five years (6% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About CUNY Graduate School and University Center

CUNY Graduate School and University Center admits 39% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, a compact campus enrolling 3,067 students in New York, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY Graduate School and University Center →

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) Boston College ($55,162) University of Maryland Global Campus ($53,513) University of Pennsylvania ($53,022) Villanova University ($52,294) Northwestern University ($52,210)

Compare Communication and Media Studies

CUNY Graduate School and University Center vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo → CUNY Graduate School and University Center vs University of Maryland Global Campus →

Other Majors at CUNY Graduate School and University Center

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($109,744) Information Science/Studies ($73,937) Business/Commerce, General ($65,520) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($58,033) Social Sciences, Other ($54,265) Psychology, General ($48,299)

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 CUNY Graduate School and University Center's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 61/100, 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 CUNY Graduate School and University Center rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?
The #4 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 →