Radio, Television, and Digital Communication: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 15 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$184,840 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
Not availableModeled economic break-even
−175%Modeled 10-year ROI
$37,102Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Four useful answers about Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
How much do Radio, Television, and Digital Communication associate's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $37,102 four years after completion across reportable associate's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $11,647. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $35,516 to $37,102 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Radio, Television, and Digital Communication?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 9 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−$168,980
$8,000Current college-wide context−$184,980
$16,000Annual price−$200,980
$24,000Annual price−$216,980
$32,000Annual price−$232,980
$40,000Annual price−$248,980
Observed national outcomes
$37,102Median reported earnings · year 4
$35,410Average reported earnings · year 5
$11,647Median federal debt
15thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
15With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 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
- $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$35,516National median$37,10275th percentile$37,102
15 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.
$38,045Observed year-4 earnings$33,290
Baker College$13,157 price · $39,242 earningsSouthern Maine Community College$11,086 price · $38,045 earningsSan Antonio College$4,585 price · $37,871 earningsAustin Community College District$6,390 price · $37,248 earningsConnecticut State Community College$11,513 price · $37,102 earningsHillsborough College$3,861 price · $36,536 earningsParkland College$8,048 price · $36,353 earningsSUNY Broome Community College$8,940 price · $35,516 earningsOrange County Community College$6,794 price · $35,373 earningsHawkeye Community College$9,649 price · $34,419 earningsEl Paso Community College$3,206 price · $33,290 earnings
$3,206Annual college-wide average net price$11,513
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.
11 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Baker College$39,2422Southern Maine Community College$38,0453San Antonio College$37,8714Austin Community College District$37,2485Connecticut State Community College$37,1026Hillsborough College$36,5367Parkland College$36,3538SUNY Broome Community College$35,5169Orange County Community College$35,37310Hawkeye Community College$34,419Observed 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 ↑
-10%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.
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,580 median wage29,420 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1122+2.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$47,590–$143,720 10th–90th percentileManagers, All Other$141,900 median wage622,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9199+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 100.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$74,300–$238,270 10th–90th percentileWeb and Digital Interface Designers$104,000 median wage113,330 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1255+6.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 8.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$53,750–$201,550 10th–90th percentileProducers and Directors$90,360 median wage143,120 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-2012+4.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$45,780–$198,540 10th–90th percentileFilm 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 percentileMedia and Communication Workers, All Other$73,620 median wage19,590 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3099+3.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$39,120–$134,270 10th–90th percentileNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,200 median wage39,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3023-5.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$36,240–$144,140 10th–90th percentileBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,340 median wage21,240 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3011-7.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$28,190–$138,440 10th–90th percentileNO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999
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 | Baker CollegeAssociate's Degree | Owosso, MI | $39,242 | Not available | -150% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Southern Maine Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | South Portland, ME | $38,045 | $10,500 | -162% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | San Antonio CollegeAssociate's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $37,871 | Not available | -172% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Austin Community College DistrictAssociate's Degree | Austin, TX | $37,248 | $12,000 | -175% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Connecticut State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | New Britain, CT | $37,102 | Not available | -170% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Hillsborough CollegeAssociate's Degree | Tampa, FL | $36,536 | Not available | -187% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Parkland CollegeAssociate's Degree | Champaign, IL | $36,353 | Not available | -182% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | SUNY Broome Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Binghamton, NY | $35,516 | $11,293 | -188% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Orange County Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Middletown, NY | $35,373 | Not available | -193% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Hawkeye Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Waterloo, IA | $34,419 | Not available | -197% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | El Paso Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | El Paso, TX | $33,290 | Not available | -221% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Manchester Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $37,102 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 13 | Naugatuck Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $37,102 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 14 | Middlesex Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | , | $37,102 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 15 | International College of BroadcastingAssociate's Degree | , | $36,490 | $26,771 | 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.