Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at California State University-Dominguez Hills

Cal State Dominguez Hills outperforms most media programs while keeping debt remarkably low—graduates owe just $13,000, less than half the $24,250 national median and well below the $15,248 California median. At the 80th percentile among California programs, this beats well-known options like Long Beach and Northridge despite Dominguez Hills' 91% admission rate and student body where 61% receive Pell grants.

The earnings picture shows graduates starting at $36,517, which places this program in the 86th percentile nationally—$6,500 above the national median and $11,000 above the California median. However, earnings essentially flatline rather than grow, sitting at $35,970 four years out. Still, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.36, graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a year or two of focused repayment.

For families concerned about media degrees leading to unstable careers and crushing debt, this program flips that script. Your child graduates with minimal debt burden and earnings that, while they don't grow much, start strong enough to provide financial stability from day one. Among California's 23 media programs, this is a legitimately strong value—particularly for students who might not access higher-ranked private universities.