Communication & Journalism at Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,836/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (65% exposed)
Job Market Medium (25,900 openings/yr)
ROI 18.5x earnings multiple (8.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 16 Communication & Journalism programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Communication & Journalism graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $662K $635K $553K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.3x 18.5x 16.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.9x 8.6x 7.5x
Probability of Field Employment 46% 39% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 47 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,304
Out-of-state: $73,944 (8.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$36,692
-7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,882
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,211
105% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,836 track close to the $34,532 national median for Communication & Journalism programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Communication & Journalism programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Communication & Journalism's typical career paths, with 65% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 16% gap from the optimistic case.

At $12,882 in median debt against $33,836 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #2 of 16 nationally, this is a top-5% Communication & Journalism program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $69,211 show a 105% jump from the $33,836 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Farmingdale State College

With a 69% acceptance rate, Farmingdale State College is moderately selective, enrolling 9,117 students in Farmingdale, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at Farmingdale State College →

Top Career Paths

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
Editors $75,260/yr
Writers and authors $72,270/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Communication & Journalism at Other Schools

Other Majors at Farmingdale State College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication & Journalism at Farmingdale State College?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication & Journalism. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Communication & Journalism careers?
With 65% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $553,043 in decade earnings vs $661,680 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Farmingdale State College's Communication & Journalism program stand out?
Ranked #2 of 16 programs nationally, Farmingdale State 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 →