Communications & Media Studies: Brigham Young University vs CUNY City College

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
CUNY City College
New York, NY
In-State
16.5x
$25,984 tuition
14.8x
$29,360 tuition
Out-of-State
16.5x
$25,984 tuition
7.1x
$61,160 tuition
$46,747/yr starting · Private nonprofit
$42,734/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

Brigham Young University CUNY City College
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.5x 14.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.5x 7.1x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $29,360
Year 1 Earnings $46,747 $42,734
10-Year Earnings $430K $435K
Median Debt $19,680 $14,858
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.1 months 4.2 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 67/100 64/100
Acceptance Rate 69.2% 58.1%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (55% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Communications & Media Studies graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Communications & Media Studies graduates.

Brigham Young University CUNY City College
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $29,360
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $25,984 $61,160
10-Year Projected Earnings $430K $435K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.5x 14.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.5x 7.1x

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Communications & Media Studies (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Brigham Young University CUNY City College
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $536K $430K $323K $639K $435K $295K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 20.6x 16.5x 12.4x 21.8x 14.8x 10.1x
DegreeWorth Score 69 67 61 67 64 57

For the full AI analysis of Communications & Media Studies career paths, see the Brigham Young University or CUNY City College program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Communications & Media Studies graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$3,376
Brigham Young University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$4,013/yr
Brigham Young University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
16.5x / 14.8x
Out-of-state: 16.5x / 7.1x

Career Paths

Communications & Media Studies graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Public relations managers $138,520 6,600 +5.0% 55%
Fundraising managers $123,480 3,600 +4.2% 56%
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800 2,700 +2.1% 43%
Editors $75,260 9,800 +0.6% 65%
Writers and authors $72,270 13,400 +3.6% 89%
Media and communication workers, all other $71,770 3,000 +2.7% 0%
Public relations specialists $69,780 27,600 +4.8% 59%
Fundraisers $66,490 10,200 +4.3% 52%

Explore Each Program

More Communications & Media Studies Comparisons

Communications & Media Studies Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Communications & Media Studies: Brigham Young University or CUNY City College?
Brigham Young University scores 67/100 while CUNY City College scores 64/100. Brigham Young University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Communications & Media Studies?
Brigham Young University has an in-state earnings multiple of 16.5x vs CUNY City College's 14.8x. That means Brigham Young University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Brigham Young University and CUNY City College compare on Communications & Media Studies earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $46,747 at Brigham Young University vs $42,734 at CUNY City College. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $429,860 vs $435,348 — a difference of $5,488.
How much does Communications & Media Studies cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $25,984 at Brigham Young University and $29,360 at CUNY City College. Median debt at graduation is $19,680 vs $14,858. Both programs lead to the same Communications & Media Studies career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.