Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Lincoln University

Lincoln University's Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program starts graduates at $23,309—about $6,000 below the national median and $3,000 below Pennsylvania's typical outcomes. While that places it in the 40th percentile among Pennsylvania programs (essentially middle-of-the-pack in-state), it ranks in just the 11th percentile nationally. The $27,000 in debt matches the state median but creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.16, meaning graduates owe more than their first year's salary.

Context matters here: Lincoln serves predominantly lower-income students (66% receive Pell grants), and the program does produce employment in this field. However, the first-year earnings barely exceed $23,000, which makes the monthly loan payments challenging on an entry-level media salary. Compare this to Lebanon Valley College's graduates earning $45,000 or even Temple's at $29,000—there's a substantial earnings gap that persists within Pennsylvania itself.

For a career path already known for modest starting salaries, these numbers suggest financial strain in those critical first years after graduation. If your child is set on media careers, exploring programs with stronger industry connections or lower debt loads would provide more breathing room as they build their career.