Radio, Television, and Digital Communication: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 160 college programs, at a typical net price.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
What Radio, Television, and Digital Communication pays
Career outlook for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduates
The job market for the occupations Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, all other | 1,333,700 | +4.5% | $136,550 | Bachelor's degree |
| Producers and directors | 167,000 | +4.9% | $83,480 | Bachelor's degree |
| Web and digital interface designers | 128,900 | +7.0% | $98,090 | Bachelor's degree |
| News analysts, reporters, and journalists | 49,300 | -3.9% | $60,280 | Bachelor's degree |
| Film and video editors | 43,500 | +4.0% | $70,980 | Bachelor's degree |
| Communications teachers, postsecondary | 35,800 | +2.1% | $77,800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication vs similar majors
How Radio, Television, and Digital Communication stacks up against the closest fields in Communication & Journalism on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Communication & Journalism · this major | Publishing | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 26 F | 44 D | 51 C | 43 D |
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $49,958 | $66,070 | $62,634 | $60,960 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $30,495 | $48,328 | $42,528 | $42,164 |
| ROI vs cost | -38% | +124% | +118% | +92% |
| Typical debt | $23,092 | $60,535 | $24,638 | $30,965 |
| Colleges offering it | 160 | 4 | 184 | 32 |
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD | Certificate | $78,885 | — | +2,418% | Strong return |
| 2 | CUNY City College New York, NY | Associate's | $61,191 | — | +2,044% | Strong return |
| 3 | University of Georgia Athens, GA | Certificate | $74,543 | $20,713 | +1,275% | Strong return |
| 4 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | Associate's | $91,748 | $27,840 | +1,260% | Strong return |
| 5 | Miami University-Middletown Middletown, OH | Associate's | $81,064 | $23,681 | +1,092% | Strong return |
| 6 | Miami University-Hamilton Hamilton, OH | Associate's | $81,064 | $23,681 | +1,056% | Strong return |
| 7 | University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL | Associate's | $57,845 | $15,000 | +751% | Strong return |
| 8 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | Certificate | $107,762 | $53,656 | +727% | Strong return |
| 9 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, CT | Associate's | $68,439 | $22,375 | +684% | Strong return |
| 10 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | Associate's | $65,909 | $17,750 | +620% | Strong return |
| 11 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Associate's | $57,845 | $15,000 | +593% | Strong return |
| 12 | University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, CT | Associate's | $68,439 | $22,375 | +555% | Strong return |
| 13 | University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, CT | Associate's | $68,439 | $22,375 | +472% | Strong return |
| 14 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA | Associate's | $62,463 | $17,500 | +465% | Strong return |
| 15 | University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, CT | Associate's | $68,439 | $22,375 | +461% | Strong return |
| 16 | Miami University-Oxford Oxford, OH | Associate's | $81,064 | $23,681 | +452% | Strong return |
| 17 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJ | Associate's | $65,566 | $23,500 | +418% | Strong return |
| 18 | University of Georgia Athens, GA | Associate's | $60,906 | $18,250 | +361% | Strong return |
| 19 | University of Mississippi University, MS | Associate's | $60,816 | $21,510 | +359% | Strong return |
| 20 | Saint Edward's University Austin, TX | Associate's | $71,684 | $24,000 | +346% | Strong return |
| 21 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX | Associate's | $64,355 | $21,500 | +336% | Strong return |
| 22 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT | Associate's | $68,439 | $22,375 | +302% | Strong return |
| 23 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY | Associate's | $73,497 | — | +293% | Strong return |
| 24 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY | Associate's | $48,587 | $10,588 | +256% | Strong return |
| 25 | Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA | Associate's | $65,149 | $27,000 | +216% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.