Radio, Television, and Digital Communication: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 165 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$216,584 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
59.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
−83%Modeled 10-year ROI
$49,359Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$49,359Median reported earnings · year 4
$50,827Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,250Median federal debt
20thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
165Reporting programs
163With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $31,878
- Federal debt
- $9,500
- Reporting programs
- 10
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $37,102
- Federal debt
- $11,647
- Reporting programs
- 15
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,359
- Federal debt
- $24,250
- Reporting programs
- 165
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,242
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 20
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$43,954National median$49,35975th percentile$56,990
163 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus$99,9152Rochester Institute of Technology$91,2223Fordham University$84,3664Miami University-Hamilton$82,4115Miami University-Middletown$82,4116Miami University-Oxford$82,4117New York University$77,1098CUNY City College$72,0689Syracuse University$70,81510University of Mississippi$69,082Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Communications Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1122 · 2 crosswalk linksBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysSOC 27-3011 · 1 crosswalk linksFilm and Video EditorsSOC 27-4032 · 1 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 1 crosswalk linksMedia and Communication Workers, All OtherSOC 27-3099 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksNews Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsSOC 27-3023 · 1 crosswalk linksProducers and DirectorsSOC 27-2012 · 1 crosswalk linksWeb and Digital Interface DesignersSOC 15-1255 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $99,915 | $28,350 | +140% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $91,222 | $27,000 | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Fordham UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $84,366 | $23,230 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Miami University-HamiltonBachelor's Degree | Hamilton, OH | $82,411 | $24,250 | +66% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Miami University-MiddletownBachelor's Degree | Middletown, OH | $82,411 | $24,250 | +68% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $82,411 | $24,250 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $77,109 | $21,500 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | CUNY City CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $72,068 | Not available | +39% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $70,815 | $27,000 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of MississippiBachelor's Degree | University, MS | $69,082 | $21,521 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Seton Hall UniversityBachelor's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $67,192 | $27,000 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeBachelor's Degree | Erie, PA | $66,876 | $24,937 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $66,876 | $24,937 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $66,876 | $24,937 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $65,892 | $23,375 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $65,892 | $23,375 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $65,892 | $23,375 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $65,892 | $23,375 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $65,892 | $23,375 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Savannah College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $64,076 | $27,000 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | The New SchoolBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $64,018 | $22,375 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Lebanon Valley CollegeBachelor's Degree | Annville, PA | $63,128 | $27,000 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Montclair State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Montclair, NJ | $62,999 | $25,425 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $62,227 | $17,916 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | University of Florida-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $62,227 | $17,916 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $62,214 | $21,500 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | University of MiamiBachelor's Degree | Coral Gables, FL | $62,053 | $19,500 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Texas Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $61,636 | $22,500 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $61,478 | $18,500 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Xavier UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $61,035 | $25,642 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Seattle UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $61,021 | $18,250 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $60,876 | $18,500 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $60,832 | $22,196 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | $60,617 | $21,302 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Biola UniversityBachelor's Degree | La Mirada, CA | $60,082 | $22,813 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Stevenson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Owings Mills, MD | $59,377 | Not available | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $58,974 | $27,000 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $58,974 | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 39 | Ithaca CollegeBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $58,804 | $23,921 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $58,550 | $17,683 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $57,956 | $20,700 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Hofstra UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $56,990 | $25,000 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Manhattanville UniversityBachelor's Degree | Purchase, NY | $56,117 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | The University of AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $55,894 | $24,823 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $55,804 | $23,750 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | St Bonaventure UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Bonaventure, NY | $55,796 | $26,000 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Pepperdine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Malibu, CA | $55,432 | $21,375 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University of La VerneBachelor's Degree | La Verne, CA | $55,332 | Not available | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Southeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lakeland, FL | $55,318 | $25,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Marquette UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $55,298 | Not available | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Appalachian State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boone, NC | $55,235 | $23,250 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Baker CollegeBachelor's Degree | Owosso, MI | $54,961 | Not available | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Columbia College ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $54,357 | $25,420 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Cornerstone UniversityBachelor's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $54,344 | Not available | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Academy of Art UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $54,087 | $25,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | The University of Texas at DallasBachelor's Degree | Richardson, TX | $53,828 | $24,341 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $53,818 | $26,000 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Saint Edward's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $53,473 | $24,000 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $52,860 | $23,044 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $52,798 | $22,746 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $52,798 | $22,746 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Lewis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Romeoville, IL | $52,722 | Not available | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $51,758 | $27,000 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Georgia Southern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Statesboro, GA | $51,581 | $28,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $51,471 | $15,500 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | CUNY Brooklyn CollegeBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $51,404 | $13,820 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Purdue University GlobalBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $51,391 | $46,125 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Texas Southern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $51,195 | $34,750 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $50,891 | $23,250 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of Northwestern-St PaulBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $50,708 | $24,013 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | University of MontevalloBachelor's Degree | Montevallo, AL | $50,497 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Central Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $50,318 | $22,975 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $50,279 | $24,250 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $50,233 | $25,935 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | High Point UniversityBachelor's Degree | High Point, NC | $50,007 | Not available | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $49,987 | $21,858 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Point Park UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,951 | $27,000 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | University of IdahoBachelor's Degree | Moscow, ID | $49,929 | $26,000 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | University of Northern IowaBachelor's Degree | Cedar Falls, IA | $49,794 | $19,604 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshBachelor's Degree | Oshkosh, WI | $49,639 | $24,637 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | University of BaltimoreBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $49,445 | $28,750 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $49,359 | $15,000 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Kutztown, PA | $49,132 | $27,000 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $48,753 | $21,202 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | State University of New York at OswegoBachelor's Degree | Oswego, NY | $48,489 | $23,665 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Loyola University ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $48,479 | $25,000 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusBachelor's Degree | Saint Clairsville, OH | $48,390 | $25,000 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusBachelor's Degree | Chillicothe, OH | $48,390 | $25,000 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Ohio University-Southern CampusBachelor's Degree | Ironton, OH | $48,390 | $25,000 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, OH | $48,390 | $25,000 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Ohio University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Athens, OH | $48,390 | $25,000 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusBachelor's Degree | Zanesville, OH | $48,390 | $25,000 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | California State University, FullertonBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $48,094 | $17,504 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Cedarville UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cedarville, OH | $47,782 | $15,250 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Ball State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Muncie, IN | $47,737 | $23,443 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $47,723 | $27,683 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $47,505 | $18,492 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | State University of New York at New PaltzBachelor's Degree | New Paltz, NY | $47,453 | $21,500 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $47,444 | $15,000 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | University of MaineBachelor's Degree | Orono, ME | $47,421 | $26,725 | -90% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.