Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians at SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo State's audiovisual communications program starts graduates below $25,000 but shows something unusual: steady upward momentum that outpaces most peers. While first-year earnings trail the national median by roughly $1,500, by year four graduates reach nearly $34,000—a 37% jump that suggests real skill-building and career advancement. Among New York's nine programs, this one lands in the 60th percentile, meaning it outperforms most in-state options despite serving a predominantly middle-class and working-class student body (53% receive Pell grants).

The $25,469 in median debt roughly equals first-year earnings, which looks tight on paper. However, the math improves considerably as earnings climb—by year four, graduates earn enough to manage those loan payments more comfortably. This pattern matters more than the initial sticker shock, especially compared to programs where earnings plateau or decline.

The real question is whether your child can weather those first couple of years on a $25,000 salary while making loan payments. If they can live at home or have support during that initial period, the trajectory looks promising. But if they need to be financially independent from day one, that tight first-year budget could be genuinely difficult. The program delivers growth, but it asks for patience.