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Communication and Media Studies at SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,973/yr (-20% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 15.3x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #284 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 50%

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	$545K	$539K	$494K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.5x	15.3x	14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.1x	7.0x	6.4x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	37	33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,248

Out-of-state: $76,928 (7.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,332

-114% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

8.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,278

83% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

SUNY Oneonta's Communication and Media Studies graduates start at $27,973/yr, trailing the $35,147 national average by 20%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 15.3x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$27,973 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #284 out of 613 programs, SUNY Oneonta's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $27,973 to $51,278 over five years (83% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About SUNY Oneonta

A 70% acceptance rate means SUNY Oneonta is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 4,820 students in Oneonta, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY Oneonta →

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 SUNY Oneonta

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 Oneonta's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 37/100 — 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 are Communication and Media Studies earnings lower at SUNY Oneonta?

Lower starting pay at SUNY Oneonta may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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