Location: Jamestown, NC•In-State Tuition: $2,319•Out-of-State Tuition: $7,695
Median Earnings (1yr)
$28,287
80th percentile
60th percentile in North Carolina
Median Debt
$20,251
11% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.72 ManageableSample: 27 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Guilford Technical's audiovisual communications program graduates start at $28,287—well above the national median of $22,790 for this field and exactly at North Carolina's median. That puts graduates in the 80th percentile nationally, though right in the middle pack among NC's 13 programs. The modest $20,251 debt load (below the national median) translates to a manageable 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can expect to earn back their student debt in under nine months.

The concerning part is what happens next: virtually no earnings growth. Four years out, graduates are making just $260 more annually than they started. For a technical field, that's unusual—you'd expect skills and experience to translate into better pay over time. This suggests either limited advancement opportunities or that the entry-level ceiling in this field is the actual ceiling.

Given the small sample size here, these numbers warrant extra scrutiny. But if they hold, this looks like a program that gets you employed quickly at a decent wage relative to debt, making it a reasonable choice if you want to enter the workforce immediately and can live on roughly $28,000 annually long-term. Just don't count on your salary climbing much as you gain experience.

Where Guilford Technical Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all audiovisual communications technologies/technicians associates's programs nationally

Guilford Technical Community CollegeOther audiovisual communications technologies/technicians programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Guilford Technical Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Guilford Technical Community College earns $28k — 80th percentile among audiovisual communications technologies/technicians associates programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Guilford Technical Community College$28,287$28,547+1%
Iowa Western Community College$24,428$33,509+37%
Suffolk County Community College$30,575$32,462+6%
California College of ASU$14,613$30,296+107%
Full Sail University$27,597$28,393+3%

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown$2,319$28,287$28,547$20,2510.72
Salt Lake Community CollegeSalt Lake City$4,257$31,172$24,966——
Suffolk County Community CollegeSelden$6,440$30,575$32,462$11,5000.38
CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeLong Island City$5,218$29,299———
Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeCincinnati$5,400$27,936—$13,5110.48
Full Sail UniversityWinter Park$26,417$27,597$28,393$31,0001.12
National Median—$22,790—$18,2470.80

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with audiovisual communications technologies/technicians graduates

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions.

$70,570/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Film and Video Editors

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.

$70,570/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.

$67,310/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Audio and Video Technicians

Set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, video cameras, video monitors and servers, and related electronic equipment for live or recorded events, such as concerts, meetings, conventions, presentations, podcasts, news conferences, and sporting events.

$56,600/yrJobs growth:

Broadcast Technicians

Set up, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used to acquire, edit, and transmit audio and video for radio or television programs. Control and adjust incoming and outgoing broadcast signals to regulate sound volume, signal strength, and signal clarity. Operate satellite, microwave, or other transmitter equipment to broadcast radio or television programs.

$56,600/yrJobs growth:

Sound Engineering Technicians

Assemble and operate equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce sound, including music, voices, or sound effects, for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.

$56,600/yrJobs growth:

Lighting Technicians

Set up, maintain, and dismantle light fixtures, lighting control devices, and the associated lighting electrical and rigging equipment used for photography, television, film, video, and live productions. May focus or operate light fixtures, or attach color filters or other lighting accessories.

$56,600/yrJobs growth:

Disc Jockeys, Except Radio

Play prerecorded music for live audiences at venues or events such as clubs, parties, or wedding receptions. May use techniques such as mixing, cutting, or sampling to manipulate recordings. May also perform as emcee (master of ceremonies).

Jobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Guilford Technical Community College, approximately 41% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 27 graduates with reported earnings and 25 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.