Communication and Media Studies at CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
44
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings
$31,918/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk
High (55% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
18.1x earnings multiple (8.8x out-of-state)
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 | $554K | $546K | $499K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.4x | 18.1x | 16.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 8.9x | 8.8x | 8.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 46% | 40% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 44 | 44 | 38 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,152
Out-of-state: $61,952 (8.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,500
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,368
70% growth from Year 1
About CUNY Queens College
CUNY Queens College accepts 69% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, serving 13,060 students in Queens, NY. With 48% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $15,320 over four years — 49% below sticker price.
See all programs and financial aid at CUNY Queens College →Top Career Paths
Public relations managers
$138,520/yr
Fundraising managers
$123,480/yr
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools
Other Majors at CUNY Queens College
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at CUNY Queens College?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Communication and Media Studies careers?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $498,936 in decade earnings vs $553,503 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes CUNY Queens College's Communication and Media Studies program stand out?
Ranked #140 of 613 programs nationally, CUNY Queens College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →