Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Syracuse University

Syracuse's communications program commands a premium price but appears to earn it. With first-year earnings of $37,556, graduates outperform 90% of similar programs nationally and 80% in New York—a state where competition is fierce and includes heavyweights like NYU and Fordham. That $27,000 median debt sits well below both national and state averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 that suggests graduates can realistically manage repayment.

The earnings trajectory looks particularly encouraging: that 47% jump to $55,339 by year four demonstrates real career progression, not just entry-level scrambling. Among New York programs, Syracuse trails only RIT (which attracts a different technical audience) and NYU, while beating established media schools like Ithaca and The New School. For a field often criticized for low pay, these outcomes stand out.

The caveat is that this isn't a budget option—Syracuse's selectivity (42% admission rate, 1351 SAT average) and relatively low Pell enrollment (16%) signal a student body with resources. If your child can get in, the investment appears solid: manageable debt paired with earnings that outpace most peers, both regionally and nationally. For families targeting media careers, this delivers more concrete results than most alternatives.