Journalism at CUNY Lehman College

Lehman's journalism program starts weak but tells an unusually optimistic story: graduates see their earnings jump 60% by year four, reaching $42,005—above both the national and state medians. That first-year salary of $26,319 places this program near the bottom nationally (11th percentile), but the trajectory matters more than the starting point. Among New York journalism programs, graduates move from well below the state median to comfortably above it within four years, suggesting the degree opens doors that take time to walk through.

The financial risk is remarkably low. At $12,375, debt here is less than half the national median for journalism programs, making this one of the most affordable paths into the field. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 means even that difficult first year remains manageable—graduates owe less than half their annual salary. Given that 61% of students receive Pell grants, Lehman appears to be delivering genuine economic mobility for students from lower-income backgrounds.

The tradeoff is patience and initial struggle. If your child needs immediate earning power after graduation, this program won't deliver it. But if they can weather a tough first year or two—perhaps while building a portfolio and connections in New York's media market—the long-term numbers suggest they'll catch up to peers from pricier programs while carrying far less debt. For families watching their budget, this represents a legitimate path into journalism.