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Communication & Journalism at SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,049/yr (-13% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (65% exposed)

Job Market Medium (25,900 openings/yr)

ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #8 of 16 Communication & Journalism programs Top 50%

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	$516K	$512K	$472K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.2x	15.1x	13.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.8x	6.8x	6.2x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	39%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	34	34	26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$33,944

Out-of-state: $75,624 (6.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,916

-68% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,000

9.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$48,271

61% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

SUNY Buffalo State University's Communication & Journalism program produces graduates earning $30,049/yr — within striking distance of the $34,532 national average for this field.

The 15.1x 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 — 65% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,000 debt-to-$30,049 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #8 out of 16 programs, SUNY Buffalo State University's Communication & Journalism offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $30,049 to $48,271 over five years (61% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About SUNY Buffalo State University

A 76% acceptance rate means SUNY Buffalo State University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,358 in Buffalo, NY. 53% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY Buffalo State University →

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 SUNY Buffalo State University

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

How does SUNY Buffalo State University's Communication & Journalism program score?

This program scores 34/100 — on the lower end for Communication & Journalism. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Communication & Journalism to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Communication & Journalism careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 65% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

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