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Communication and Media Studies at State University of New York at Cortland

Cortland, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,683/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 15.8x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #103 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Communication and Media Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$568K	$558K	$508K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.1x	15.8x	14.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.6x	7.5x	6.8x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	47	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,260

Out-of-state: $74,900 (7.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$79,804

-126% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

7.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$57,625

66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

State University of New York at Cortland's Communication and Media Studies program produces graduates earning $34,683/yr — within striking distance of the $35,147 national average for this field.

The 15.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,500 debt-to-$34,683 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #103 out of 613 programs, State University of New York at Cortland's Communication and Media Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $34,683 to $57,625 over five years (66% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About State University of New York at Cortland

State University of New York at Cortland's 51% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving 5,896 students in Cortland, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at State University of New York at Cortland →

Top Career Paths

Public relations managers $138,520/yr

Fundraising managers $123,480/yr

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at State University of New York at Cortland

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does State University of New York at Cortland's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 47/100 — 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 does State University of New York at Cortland rank so high for Communication and Media Studies?

The #103 ranking out of 613 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →