Journalism graduates from Onondaga Community College earn $45,638 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $8,250.
Journalism at Onondaga Community College
Syracuse, New York • Associate's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Journalism at Onondaga Community College
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Onondaga Community College and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Journalism at the associate's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 22 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Onondaga Community College, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $45,638 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $48,497 across all institutions offering Journalism, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Onondaga Community College, the mean median-earnings figure is $44,972, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Journalism graduates at Onondaga Community College is $8,250, which translates to roughly $69 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Journalism at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Community College District | $51,356 | — |
| Onondaga Community College (this school) | $45,638 | $8,250 |
Other Programs at Onondaga Community College
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician | $97,959 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $86,920 | $15,575 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $61,064 | $9,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $49,450 | $12,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,949 | $8,605 |
| Journalism (current) | $45,638 | $8,250 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $44,520 | $10,085 |
| Fire Protection | $42,682 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,819 | $9,500 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $39,729 | — |
Other Schools with Journalism
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.