Communication and Media Studies at Marymount Manhattan College

Marymount Manhattan's Communication and Media Studies program tells a dramatic story of delayed payoff. That first-year salary of $25,000 places this program in the bottom 5% nationally—below even the poverty line in New York City. But earnings more than double by year four, reaching $54,462, which suddenly beats 75% of New York communication programs. This kind of explosive growth suggests graduates may be starting in unpaid internships or very junior media positions before breaking into better-paying roles.

The challenge is surviving those early years. With $25,500 in debt and barely $2,000 monthly in gross income initially, graduates face serious financial strain in one of America's most expensive cities. Even with roommates and side hustles, that first year will be tight. The question is whether your child has the financial cushion—or the willingness to live extremely frugally—to weather that period.

By year four, the picture improves substantially, with earnings approaching $55,000 putting graduates ahead of most New York communication majors. But compare this to Cornell ($62,000) or even CUNY's graduate program ($58,000), and the gap is clear. If your child is determined to work in New York media and can handle the rocky start financially—perhaps with parental support for housing or living at home—this program can lead somewhere. Without that safety net, those early years present real hardship.