Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College's audiovisual communications program starts graduates at just $18,929—troublingly low even for an associate's degree. What makes this harder to accept: among New York's 19 similar programs, this ranks in the bottom 10th percentile, earning roughly $10,000 less annually than the state median of $29,299. Students at nearby LaGuardia Community College in the same CUNY system earn 55% more right out of the gate.

The 46% earnings jump to $27,689 by year four offers some redemption, but graduates still face difficult early years. With over half the student body on Pell grants, that sub-$19,000 starting salary in expensive New York City creates real financial hardship. The relatively manageable $10,250 debt load is the program's saving grace—it's actually below the state median and less than half the national average—but even low debt feels heavy when your first paycheck barely covers rent.

If your child is set on audiovisual production in New York, push them to consider other CUNY campuses first. LaGuardia offers the same tuition with dramatically better earnings outcomes. This program might make sense only if location is non-negotiable or if your student plans to transfer to a four-year program quickly rather than entering the workforce with this degree alone.