Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Georgia Tech graduates with this degree earn nearly $77,000 in their first year—more than double both the national and state medians for media/communications programs. While the sample size is small and Georgia Tech's rigorous environment means these graduates likely bring exceptional technical skills, the gap is striking: this program places in the 95th percentile among all media programs in both Georgia and nationally, earning nearly twice what University of Georgia grads make in the same field.

The debt picture reinforces the value. At $28,350, graduates carry manageable loans that represent just 0.37 times their first-year salary—meaning most could reasonably pay off their debt within a few years of graduation. That's better than 95% of media programs nationwide. The modest earnings growth to year four suggests these graduates start strong rather than climbing slowly, likely because Georgia Tech's technical reputation opens doors in digital media, tech communications, or analytics roles that pay substantially more than traditional broadcasting.

The small sample size matters here—we're likely seeing a self-selected group who combined Tech's STEM environment with media training to land in specialized, high-paying niches. But for a student who can handle Georgia Tech's academics and wants to blend technology with communication, this represents an unusually strong financial outcome for a field that typically struggles with low starting salaries.