Communication and Media Studies at The New School

The New School's Communication and Media Studies program starts rough but rebounds significantly. That first-year median of $22,365 ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of comparable programs produce better immediate outcomes. Even within New York's competitive media market, this places graduates in the bottom quarter statewide. The $23,241 in debt isn't excessive, but when your initial salary barely covers living expenses in Manhattan, that 1.04 debt-to-earnings ratio hits harder than the number suggests.

Here's what redeems this picture: by year four, median earnings jump to $48,499—a 117% increase that nearly doubles the typical graduate's income. This suggests the program may be serving as a credential for entry into competitive creative industries where initial positions pay poorly but career trajectories improve for those who stick it out. Still, even at year four, graduates earn less than peers from Cornell ($62,182) or Fordham ($46,405), and remain below the state median.

The practical reality? Your child would likely need financial support through those first few years in New York City while building their career. If your family can subsidize that runway—and if your student is genuinely committed to weathering the industry's notoriously difficult entry period—the eventual earnings growth offers hope. But if they'll need to be financially independent immediately after graduation, the numbers point toward risk.