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Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,892/yr (-8% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

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

ROI 12.1x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #46 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs Top 50%

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	$575K	$566K	$517K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.3x	12.1x	11.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.4x	3.3x	3.0x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	42%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	42	42	39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,712

Out-of-state: $171,112 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$78,712

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

8.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$55,238

91% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,892 track close to the $31,253 national median for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs nationally.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 9 months of the $28,892 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #46 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs, The University of Texas at Austin scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $55,238 show a 91% jump from the $28,892 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin admits 29% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with 42,100 students enrolled in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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 The University of Texas at Austin

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at The University of Texas at Austin?

A score of 42/100 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 $517,441 in decade earnings vs $575,041 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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