Communication and Media Studiesat The New School
Graduates earn $22,365/yr in their first year — about 36.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $589K; scenarios range from $530K to $603K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at The New School
While the raw earnings data may seem concerning, it reflects The New School's distinct identity. Your program is less a direct pipeline to corporate communications and more an incubator for critical thinkers, artists, and media theorists. Many graduates pursue passions in lower-paying but culturally vital fields like documentary film, independent journalism, or advocacy work for non-profits—roles that thrive in New York's creative ecosystem but don't command high initial salaries. The curriculum emphasizes theory and social critique over the vocational skills that lead to immediate high-paying PR or marketing jobs. To maximize your investment, you must aggressively seek out practical internships. The city is your campus; leverage connections at media giants or scrappy startups to build a professional portfolio that complements your academic foundation, proving you can apply your critical perspective in a commercial world.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to The New School's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies
How The New School stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at The New School
Other highest-scoring programs offered at The New School, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communication and Media Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at The New School
How does The New School's Communication and Media Studies program score?
This program scores 16/100 — on the lower end for Communication and Media Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 are Communication and Media Studies earnings lower at The New School?
Lower starting pay at The New School may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.