Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at SUNY at Fredonia

The numbers here tell a cautionary story about investing $27,000 in this particular media program. Fredonia graduates earn $24,791 in their first year—$5,000 below the already-modest national median for this field and roughly $4,600 below what peers at other New York media programs earn. Among the state's 34 schools offering this degree, Fredonia ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of competitors deliver better initial outcomes. The program sits in the bottom fifth nationally.

The 42% earnings growth to $35,206 by year four offers some recovery, and the debt load is actually lower than typical for New York media programs. But that still means graduates spend their early career years earning well below what they'd need to comfortably manage even this below-average debt. For context, nearby programs like Syracuse ($37,556 first-year earnings) and even The New School in expensive New York City ($32,169) position graduates significantly better from day one.

If your child is set on media production and specifically wants SUNY's in-state tuition advantage, understand they'll likely start in entry-level positions paying around $2,000 monthly before taxes—tough for independent living while managing $300+ monthly loan payments. The competitive New York media market rewards graduates from programs with stronger industry connections, which the earnings data suggests Fredonia may lack compared to state alternatives.