Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at International College of Broadcasting

The small graduating class here makes firm conclusions difficult, but the data suggests International College of Broadcasting delivers slightly above-average early earnings—60th percentile in Ohio and 63rd nationally—for an associate's degree in this field. At $25,882, graduates start about $850 above the national median for this program. The real concern is the debt load: at nearly $27,000, it's more than double the national median of $11,646 for similar programs, placing it in just the 5th percentile (meaning 95% of programs leave students with less debt).

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.03 means graduates owe roughly their entire first year's salary. Given that starting pay hovers around $26,000, monthly loan payments could consume 10-15% of take-home pay—a tight budget in an already low-paying field. The high Pell grant percentage (74%) suggests many students here are already financially stretched, making that debt burden particularly concerning. Broadcasting careers can be unpredictable, and while some graduates move into better-paying roles, associate's-level positions often remain entry-level longer than in other fields.

If your child is set on broadcasting and this is their only local option, understand they're taking on significant debt for modest starting pay. Community colleges offering similar programs typically cost far less, even if their connections aren't as strong. The trade-off between industry access and affordability deserves careful consideration.