Communication and Media Studies: CUNY Graduate School and University Center vs University of Maryland Global Campus

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
18.3x
$29,640 tuition
18.7x
$31,968 tuition
Out-of-State
8.8x
$61,440 tuition
12.1x
$49,344 tuition
$543,306 10-yr earnings · Public
$599,121 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

CUNY Graduate School and University Center University of Maryland Global Campus
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.3x 18.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 12.1x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,640 $31,968
Year 1 Earnings $57,782 $53,513
10-Year Earnings $543K $599K
Median Debt $12,901 $23,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.7 months 5.2 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 57/100 57/100

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

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Communication and Media Studies graduates.

CUNY Graduate School and University Center University of Maryland Global Campus
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,640 $31,968
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $61,440 $49,344
10-Year Projected Earnings $543K $599K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.3x 18.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 12.1x
5-Year Salary Growth +6% +34%

"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 Communication and Media Studies (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

CUNY Graduate School and University Center University of Maryland Global Campus
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $551K $543K $497K $615K $599K $538K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 18.6x 18.3x 16.8x 19.2x 18.7x 16.8x
DegreeWorth Score 59 57 50 58 57 49

For the full AI analysis of Communication and Media Studies career paths, see the CUNY Graduate School and University Center or University of Maryland Global Campus program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Communication and Media Studies graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$2,328
CUNY Graduate School and University Center saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$4,269/yr
CUNY Graduate School and University Center grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
18.3x / 18.7x
Out-of-state: 8.8x / 12.1x

Career Paths

Communication and 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%
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Communication and Media Studies: CUNY Graduate School and University Center or University of Maryland Global Campus?
CUNY Graduate School and University Center scores 57/100 while University of Maryland Global Campus scores 57/100. CUNY Graduate School and University Center has significantly lower tuition, which drives its competitive ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Communication and Media Studies?
CUNY Graduate School and University Center has an in-state earnings multiple of 18.3x vs University of Maryland Global Campus's 18.7x. That means University of Maryland Global Campus grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do CUNY Graduate School and University Center and University of Maryland Global Campus compare on Communication and Media Studies earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $57,782 at CUNY Graduate School and University Center vs $53,513 at University of Maryland Global Campus. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $543,306 vs $599,121 — a difference of $55,815.
How much does Communication and Media Studies cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $29,640 at CUNY Graduate School and University Center and $31,968 at University of Maryland Global Campus. Median debt at graduation is $12,901 vs $23,000. Both programs lead to the same Communication and 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.