Communication and Media Studies at Adelphi University

The dramatic earnings jump from $16,178 to $43,158 tells a story about this program, but it's not necessarily a reassuring one. That first-year number ranks in just the 10th percentile among New York communication programs—meaning 90% of similar programs in the state launch graduates into better-paying opportunities. While the four-year figure approaches respectability, it still trails the state median of $31,881, and sits well below what competitive NY programs deliver. Cornell and Fordham graduates, for context, earn roughly $60,000 and $46,000 respectively early in their careers.

The debt picture is manageable at $24,949, but here's the practical concern: your child would likely need family support or a second income source during that first year or two post-graduation. A 1.54 debt-to-earnings ratio means they'd owe more than they earn initially, which creates real financial stress regardless of future growth potential. The question becomes whether you're comfortable subsidizing those early years while they build toward mid-career earnings.

If your child is set on communication at Adelphi, understand you're betting on a slow build rather than immediate returns. That 167% growth rate is impressive on paper, but other programs offer both stronger starting positions and similar upward trajectories. For an in-state public option or a program that cracks the state's top quartile in earnings, you'd likely see better value and less financial anxiety in those crucial first years after graduation.