Communication and Media Studies at Onondaga Community College
Syracuse, NY · Public · Associate Degree
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
45
Strong Growth
42
Base Case
36
Conservative
Earnings
$29,915/yr (5% vs median)
AI-Proof
Moderate (45% shielded)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Communication and Media Studies graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $343K | $275K | $207K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 28.4x | 22.8x | 17.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 15.1x | 12.1x | 9.1x |
| Viable Career Paths | 10 of 10 | 10 of 10 | 7 of 10 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 45 | 42 | 36 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition (In-State)
$12,084
Out-of-state: $22,664
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,085
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Career Paths
Where Communication and Media Studies graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 83,300 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public relations managers | $138,520 | 6,600 | +5.0% | 45% |
| Fundraising managers | $123,480 | 3,600 | +4.2% | 44% |
| Communications teachers, postsecondary | $77,800 | 2,700 | +2.1% | 57% |
| Editors | $75,260 | 9,800 | +0.6% | 35% |
| Writers and authors | $72,270 | 13,400 | +3.6% | 11% |
| Media and communication workers, all other | $71,770 | 3,000 | +2.7% | 100% |
| Public relations specialists | $69,780 | 27,600 | +4.8% | 41% |
| Fundraisers | $66,490 | 10,200 | +4.3% | 48% |
Compare & Explore
Communication and Media Studies Overview
Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools
Other Majors at Onondaga Community College
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Communication and Media Studies at Onondaga Community College?
This program scores 42/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 36 (conservative) to 45 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Communication and Media Studies?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Communication and Media Studies graduates retain 10 of 10 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $206,603 (conservative) to $342,942 (strong growth).
How many job openings are there for Communication and Media Studies graduates?
The career paths mapped to Communication and Media Studies have roughly 83,300 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a large job market.
Is Communication and Media Studies at Onondaga Community College worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 22.8x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 17.1x. The narrow spread between scenarios shows how stable trade careers are compared to desk jobs.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios model earnings resilience using AI exposure data and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2026.