Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 27 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$286,814 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.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
2400.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−100%Modeled 10-year ROI
$45,120Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Four useful answers about Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
How much do Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $45,120 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $27,000. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $43,507 to $50,359 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 8 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$178,800
$8,000Annual price−$210,800
$16,000Annual price−$242,800
$24,000Annual price−$274,800
$27,000Current college-wide context−$286,800
$32,000Annual price−$306,800
$40,000Annual price−$338,800
Observed national outcomes
$45,120Median reported earnings · year 4
$41,871Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
10thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
27With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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
- $33,711
- Federal debt
- $12,547
- Reporting programs
- 16
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $33,442
- Federal debt
- $17,623
- Reporting programs
- 35
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,120
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 27
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $74,573
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
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$43,507National median$45,12075th percentile$50,359
27 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$62,858Observed year-4 earnings$22,550
American University$41,943 price · $75,461 earningsJohns Hopkins University$18,809 price · $62,858 earningsBowie State University$19,298 price · $56,818 earningsElon University$41,555 price · $53,185 earningsVermont State University$18,212 price · $51,409 earningsWebster University$27,047 price · $50,359 earningsHusson University$21,005 price · $48,777 earningsIthaca College$33,926 price · $48,412 earningsNew England Institute of Technology$36,483 price · $46,996 earningsRowan University$22,408 price · $46,969 earningsSt. John's University-New York$29,999 price · $46,022 earningsSUNY Buffalo State University$11,346 price · $45,120 earningsLong Island University$33,062 price · $44,659 earningsBelmont University$33,147 price · $44,222 earningsFull Sail University$38,875 price · $44,012 earningsColumbia College Chicago$26,598 price · $43,731 earningsFerris State University$8,624 price · $43,507 earningsAlabama A&M University$17,621 price · $42,272 earningsSavannah College of Art and Design$49,430 price · $26,064 earningsUniversity of Puerto Rico-Arecibo$10,680 price · $22,550 earnings
$8,624Annual college-wide average net price$41,943
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
20 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1American University$75,4612Johns Hopkins University$62,8583Bowie State University$56,8184Elon University$53,1855Vermont State University$51,4096Webster University$50,3597Husson University$48,7778Ithaca College$48,4129New England Institute of Technology$46,99610Rowan University$46,969Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Film and Video Editors$75,420 median wage25,610 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-4032+3.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$40,280–$148,550 10th–90th percentileCamera Operators, Television, Video, and Film$74,990 median wage21,550 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-4031+1.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$38,520–$135,180 10th–90th percentileLighting Technicians$68,060 median wage8,900 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-4015-4.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$42,310–$130,760 10th–90th percentileBroadcast Technicians$59,570 median wage21,110 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-4012-3.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$31,390–$123,670 10th–90th percentileAudio and Video Technicians$58,100 median wage70,230 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-4011+3.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$37,990–$100,650 10th–90th percentileSound Engineering Technicians$73,130 median wage13,080 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-4014-3.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$37,570–$137,370 10th–90th percentileCourt Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners$72,420 median wage12,870 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3092-0.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$42,130–$130,560 10th–90th percentileDisc Jockeys, Except Radio7,920 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-2091+3.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
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 | American UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $75,461 | $20,980 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $62,858 | Not available | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Bowie State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bowie, MD | $56,818 | $26,000 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $53,185 | Not available | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Vermont State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Randolph, VT | $51,409 | Not available | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Webster UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $50,359 | Not available | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Husson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bangor, ME | $48,777 | $27,000 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Ithaca CollegeBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $48,412 | Not available | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | New England Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $46,996 | $27,170 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Rowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glassboro, NJ | $46,969 | $22,750 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | St. John's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $46,022 | $27,000 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $45,120 | $25,469 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Long Island UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookville, NY | $44,659 | Not available | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Belmont UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $44,222 | $24,136 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Full Sail UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $44,012 | $43,000 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Columbia College ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $43,731 | $27,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Ferris State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Big Rapids, MI | $43,507 | $22,481 | -107% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Alabama A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, AL | $42,272 | $36,250 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Savannah College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $26,064 | $26,000 | -150% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of Puerto Rico-AreciboBachelor's Degree | Arecibo, PR | $22,550 | $5,500 | -201% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Northern Vermont UniversityBachelor's Degree | , | $51,409 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 22 | SAE Expression CollegeBachelor's Degree | , | $50,580 | $40,074 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 23 | The Art Institute of HoustonBachelor's Degree | , | $45,099 | $47,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 24 | The Art Institute of AustinBachelor's Degree | , | $45,099 | $47,849 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 25 | The Art Institute of AtlantaBachelor's Degree | , | $41,934 | $41,005 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 26 | AI Miami International University of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | , | $41,522 | $48,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 27 | Miami International University of Art & Design-Art Institute DallasBachelor's Degree | , | $41,522 | $48,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
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.