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Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at North Central College

Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,167/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (144,300 openings/yr)

ROI 2.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #115 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$423K	$431K	$415K
Earnings Multiple	2.4x	2.4x	2.3x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	42%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	30	30	27

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$177,576

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$92,132

48% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

10.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (4 Year)

$49,783

65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,167/yr, roughly in line with the $31,253 national median for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The financial case is thin at 2.4x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Radio, Television, and Digital Communication's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 11 months of the $30,167 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #115 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs, North Central College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About North Central College

A 58% admission rate makes North Central College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 2,360 students in Naperville, IL. The average net cost of $92,132 over four years represents a 48% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at North Central College →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Web and digital interface designers $98,090/yr

Producers and directors $83,480/yr

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Other Schools

Other Majors at North Central College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at North Central College?

A score of 30/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Radio, Television, and Digital Communication careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $415,188 in decade earnings vs $422,940 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →