Communication and Media Studies at CUNY LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia's communication program produces graduates whose earnings land below both national and New York state medians for this field, though the small sample size (fewer than 30 graduates tracked) means individual circumstances could skew these results significantly. At $23,307 in the first year, graduates earn about $3,500 less than typical NY communication associate degree holders. Among the state's 22 programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile—middle of the pack locally, but trailing peers like Nassau Community College ($29,016) and Monroe Community College ($27,123).

The silver lining is manageable debt. At $8,511, graduates owe less than both the state ($10,999) and national ($11,944) medians, with first-year earnings covering the debt nearly three times over. Strong earnings growth—44% from year one to year four—suggests graduates find their footing over time, reaching $33,457 by year four. For a community college serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (40%), the low debt burden matters.

The tradeoff is clear: this program keeps debt low but delivers below-average starting earnings in a competitive NY market. If your child plans to transfer to a four-year school to complete a bachelor's, the affordable foundation might work. But for those treating this as a terminal degree, stronger-performing CUNY options like Borough of Manhattan exist. The limited sample means these numbers might not tell the full story, but current data suggests better communication programs are available within the CUNY system.