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Radio, Television & Digital Media

HUMANITIES Specialization

Radio, Television & Digital Media

Radio, Television & Digital Media graduates earn $50,497 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $33,717 and $70,128. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Radio, Television & Digital Media

Radio, Television & Digital Media is a focused area of study within Communication. Graduates typically earn around $50,497 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 641 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 18,257 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $30,036
Median Earnings · 4yr: $50,497
Colleges Offering: 641
Graduates / Year: 18,257
Avg Net Price / yr: $22,935

How Much Do Radio, Television & Digital Media Graduates Earn?

Radio, Television & Digital Media graduates earn $50,497 four years out, below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $33,717 and $70,128. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $30,036 climbs to $50,497 by year four.

$30,036

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$50,497

4-Year National Median

Below average for bachelor's degree holders.

$49,359

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

There is a wide earnings spread across Radio, Television & Digital Media graduates. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.

$33,717 25th pct.

$50,497 Median

$70,128 75th pct.

Understanding the Cost vs. Return

At median 4-year earnings of $50,497 and an estimated $91,740 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 4.5 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 405 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 18,257 students who complete Radio, Television & Digital Media programs each year, the majority (64%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

64%

Bachelor's 64%

Master's 17%

Associate's 9%

What Can You Do With a Radio, Television & Digital Media Degree?

Radio, Television & Digital Media connects to 6 occupations in the job market. Web and Digital Interface Designers leads at $104,000/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

↗ +7.0% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Web and Digital Interface Designers

$104,000

$73K $159K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 9,100 openings/yr 113K employed nationally

Programming Active Listening Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Judgment and Decision Making

Day-to-day responsibilities

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.

↗ +4.9% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Producer & Director

$90,360

$63K $135K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 12,800 openings/yr 143K employed nationally

Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Judgment and Decision Making

Day-to-day responsibilities

Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.

Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.

↗ +2.1% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Communications Teachers

$78,580

$61K $102K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 2,700 openings/yr 29K employed nationally

Active Listening Reading Comprehension Instructing Speaking Writing

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

↗ +4.0% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Film & Video Editor

$75,420

$53K $105K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 3,600 openings/yr 26K employed nationally

Active Listening Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Complex Problem Solving Active Learning

Day-to-day responsibilities

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.

Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.
Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.
Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.

↘ -3.9% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

News Reporter

$62,200

$45K $98K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 4,100 openings/yr 39K employed nationally

Speaking Reading Comprehension Writing Active Listening Time Management

Day-to-day responsibilities

Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.

Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.
Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.
Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.

↘ -5.5% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

$47,340

$35K $75K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 2,300 openings/yr 21K employed nationally

Speaking Active Listening Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Social Perceptiveness

Day-to-day responsibilities

Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.

Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
Operate control consoles.

Top Colleges for Radio, Television & Digital Media

The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Radio, Television & Digital Media students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Northwestern University Evanston, IL · Nonprofit	667	7.7%	$29,167	$89,363
2	New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit	646	9.2%	$37,050	$82,509
3	Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA · Nonprofit	479	83%	$49,430	$45,954
4	California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA · Public	430	93.5%	$7,021	$59,115
5	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX · Public	296	26.6%	$19,857	$75,121
6	University of Mississippi University, MS · Public	293	96.6%	$13,314	$50,994
7	Boston University Boston, MA · Nonprofit	293	11.1%	$24,402	$83,238
8	Towson University Towson, MD · Public	283	82%	$17,413	$64,390
9	Florida State University Tallahassee, FL · Public	265	24.2%	$11,297	$61,675
10	University of North Texas Denton, TX · Public	237	72.2%	$15,649	$57,010
11	Temple University Philadelphia, PA · Public	217	80.4%	$28,198	$63,727
12	Ball State University Muncie, IN · Public	210	85.5%	$14,940	$51,833
13	Fordham University Bronx, NY · Nonprofit	202	59.3%	$44,338	$85,569
14	Texas State University San Marcos, TX · Public	197	89.3%	$16,805	$56,906
15	California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public	171	91.3%	$3,967	$59,211
16	The New School New York, NY · Nonprofit	171	63.5%	$58,741	$52,901
17	Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX · Public	165	72.7%	$19,070	$62,454
18	University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit	165	9.8%	$32,740	$92,498
19	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA · Public	154	90.5%	$6,555	$62,951
20	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL · Public	154	66.1%	$8,752	$56,746

View all colleges

Ranked by Radio, Television & Digital Media graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Radio, Television & Digital Media program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Radio, Television & Digital Media degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Radio, Television & Digital Media Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Radio, Television & Digital Media shows 4 measurable strengths and 4 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $30,036 at graduation to $50,497 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +7.0% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 34,600 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availability Offered at 641 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.

CONS

Modest median earnings Four-year median of $50,497 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas 2 related careers show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($33,717) and 75th ($70,128) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Radio, Television & Digital Media Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Radio, Television & Digital Media graduates earn?

Radio, Television & Digital Media graduates earn a national median of $50,497 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $33,717 and $70,128. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.

What is the starting salary for a Radio, Television & Digital Media degree?

One year after graduation, Radio, Television & Digital Media degree holders earn a median of $30,036. That climbs to $50,497 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.

What jobs can you get with a Radio, Television & Digital Media degree?

Radio, Television & Digital Media degree holders pursue careers including Web and Digital Interface Designers, which pays a median of $104,000/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.

How long does a Radio, Television & Digital Media program take?

A Radio, Television & Digital Media bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.

How many colleges offer Radio, Television & Digital Media?

641 colleges and universities in the United States offer Radio, Television & Digital Media programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.

Is a Radio, Television & Digital Media degree worth it?

With a median 4-year salary of $50,497 and an average net price of roughly $22,935/yr, a Radio, Television & Digital Media degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.

What is the difference between Radio, Television & Digital Media and Communication?

Radio, Television & Digital Media is a focused concentration within the broader Communication field. The Communication major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Radio, Television & Digital Media-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.

What skills do employers look for in Radio, Television & Digital Media graduates?

Employers hiring Radio, Television & Digital Media graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.

What is the job outlook for Radio, Television & Digital Media graduates?

The job outlook for Radio, Television & Digital Media graduates is slow overall. Related occupations project an average of +1.4% job growth over the next 10 years. Web and Digital Interface Designers is among the strongest-growth roles at +7.0%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.