Communication and Media Studies at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Baruch's Communication and Media Studies program delivers something increasingly rare: genuinely affordable education. With just under $8,000 in typical debt—exceptional for both New York and nationally—graduates face minimal financial burden even with modest starting salaries around $36,000. That's roughly $200 in monthly debt payments versus over $600 for graduates from programs carrying the state's typical $25,000 debt load.

The earnings picture sits solidly in the middle of the pack. While $36,367 is above both state and national medians for this major, it's nowhere near what Cornell or Fordham grads earn. But here's the crucial difference: those programs typically saddle students with 3-4 times more debt. For the 55% of Baruch students on Pell grants—often first-generation college students—graduating with minimal debt creates real financial flexibility to take internships, build a portfolio, or weather the uncertain early years that media careers often require.

The value proposition here is straightforward: you get a respectable CUNY education with very little financial risk. Your child won't graduate among the highest earners in communications, but they also won't spend their twenties buried under debt payments. For families watching costs carefully, that tradeoff—especially at a school admitting students with 1310 average SATs—makes practical sense. The low debt isn't hiding a predatory program; it's reflecting CUNY's public mission.