Communication and Media Studies at Nassau Community College

Garden City, NY · Public · Associate Degree

enrolling 10,817 students in Garden City, NY.

Program Analysis

Nassau Community College's Communication and Media Studies program produces graduates earning $29,016/yr — within striking distance of the $28,401 national average for this trade.

With a 32.0x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 30% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Communication and Media Studies career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $10,875 in median debt clears fast against $29,016 in annual earnings.

A #8 ranking among 16 Communication and Media Studies programs places Nassau Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 39% earnings increase from $29,016 to $40,317 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

Communication and Media Studies has a registered apprenticeship option through Public Affairs (Military Only) with a median wage of $69,780/yr — worth exploring for students who prefer structured on-the-job training.

43 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
36
Low End
43
Score
46
High End
Earnings $29,016/yr (2% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (45% shielded)
Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$432K
8.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
34.1x
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)
$12,660
Out-of-state: $24,260
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,875
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,317
39% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Communication and Media Studies 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 →

About Communication and Media Studies Careers

Your career could start in a fast-paced public relations agency, where you’ll spend your days drafting press releases, pitching stories to journalists using media databases, and managing a company's social media presence. Another common path is in fundraising for non-profits, writing compelling grant proposals and using donor management software to build relationships and plan events.

Read the full Communication and Media Studies career guide →

Compare & Explore

Communication and Media Studies Overview

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Nassau Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 43/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Communication and Media Studies at Nassau Community College?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Should I worry about AI if I study Communication and Media Studies?
With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $303,570 in decade earnings vs $431,906 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How many job openings are there for Communication and Media Studies graduates?
With approximately 83,300 annual openings across mapped careers, Communication and Media Studies offers a large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →