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Communication & Media at Onondaga Community College

Syracuse, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Communication and Media Studies

a smaller institution with 4,349 students in Syracuse, NY.

Program Analysis

At $29,915 per year, Communication & Media graduates from Onondaga Community College earn slightly above the $28,401 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 25.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Communication & Media graduates.

The median debt load of $10,085 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #9 out of 16 programs, Onondaga Community College's financial outcomes for Communication & Media trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

One registered apprenticeship pathway (Public Affairs (Military Only) with a median wage of $69,780/yr) connects to Communication & Media careers, offering a paid training alternative to the classroom model.

42 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
37
Low End
42
Score
45
High End
Earnings $29,915/yr (5% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (45% shielded)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$313K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
25.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
10 of 10
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$12,084
Out-of-state: $22,664
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,085
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Communication & Media graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Public relations managers $138,520 +5.0% 45%
Fundraising managers $123,480 +4.2% 44%
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800 +2.1% 57%
Public relations managers
$138,520
+5.0% growth 45% AI-proof
Fundraising managers
$123,480
+4.2% growth 44% AI-proof
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800
+2.1% growth 57% AI-proof

View all 10 career paths with full salary data →

Communication & Media Career Guide

Communication & Media opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Communication & Media career guide →

Compare & Explore

Communication & Media Overview

View all 16 schools offering Communication & Media →

Communication & Media at Other Schools

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus ($42,321) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ($38,767) University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College ($38,767) Sinclair Community College ($32,284) Northampton County Area Community College ($30,471) Nassau Community College ($29,016) Full Sail University ($28,447) Rochester Community and Technical College ($27,798)

Other Majors at Onondaga Community College

Nursing ($70,178) Electrical Engineering Technology ($48,058) Fire Protection ($37,705) Health Administration ($35,484) Business Administration ($34,922) Information Science ($31,342) Human Development & Family Studies ($28,579) Human Services ($27,366)

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Compare Communication & Media degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Communication & Media at Onondaga Community College?
At 42/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Communication & Media programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
How vulnerable is Communication & Media to AI automation?
AI exposure of 55% is a real factor. For Onondaga Community College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($312,977) and pessimistic ($312,977) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
What's the job market like for Communication & Media from Onondaga Community College?
The career paths mapped to Communication & Media have roughly 83,300 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →