Home › Western Illinois University › Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,462/yr (-12% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

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

ROI 8.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #100 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	$502K	$501K	$468K
Earnings Multiple	8.4x	8.4x	7.8x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	42%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	32	32	30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$59,808

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,368

22% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,161

11.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$45,151

64% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Illinois University's Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program produces graduates earning $27,462/yr — within striking distance of the $31,253 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,161 represents roughly 12 months of the $27,462 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #100 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs, Western Illinois University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $45,151 show a 64% jump from the $27,462 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Western Illinois University

A 75% acceptance rate means Western Illinois University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 4,939 students in Macomb, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Illinois University →

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 Western Illinois University

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 Western Illinois University?

A score of 32/100 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 $468,158 in decade earnings vs $501,731 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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