Best Communication and Media Studies Degrees in New York by ROI
Colleges in New York ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in New York
49
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$183,346
Across New York programs
Average Annual Cost
$45,809
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
St. Thomas Aquinas College
Grad rate: 58.0% |
+$137,920 | $59,233 | $51,685 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Cornell University
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$109,531 | $65,089 | $83,196 | $14,418 | Full ROI → |
| 3 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center | -$4,188 | $42,744 | N/A | $14,125 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
CUNY City College
Grad rate: 56.6% |
-$13,422 | $45,100 | $13,514 | $15,827 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
CUNY Queens College
Grad rate: 58.4% |
-$59,903 | $42,400 | $13,643 | $9,875 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Farmingdale State College
Grad rate: 55.6% |
-$60,764 | $42,391 | $17,146 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
New York University
Grad rate: 87.8% |
-$64,864 | $54,581 | $79,121 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
CUNY Hunter College
Grad rate: 58.7% |
-$92,950 | $40,757 | $13,310 | $11,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Marist University
Grad rate: 80.6% |
-$95,912 | $51,739 | $63,898 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
University at Buffalo
Grad rate: 73.5% |
-$98,670 | $44,377 | $29,043 | $22,251 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
St Lawrence University
Grad rate: 81.3% |
-$103,670 | $54,437 | $79,665 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Fordham University
Grad rate: 81.8% |
-$105,499 | $53,930 | $77,351 | $25,700 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
CUNY Brooklyn College
Grad rate: 55.8% |
-$113,354 | $39,840 | $13,573 | $11,750 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Manhattan University
Grad rate: 69.1% |
-$128,988 | $49,813 | $62,537 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
College of Staten Island CUNY
Grad rate: 33.7% |
-$134,321 | $39,012 | $14,084 | $13,500 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Communication and Media Studies Degrees by State
Browse Communication and Media Studies programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.