Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Rochester Institute of Technology

RIT's broadcasting program achieves something remarkable: graduates earn $71,549 in their first year—more than double the national median of $29,976 and even surpassing NYU's well-regarded program by nearly $24,000. This places RIT at the 95th percentile among both New York state and national programs, a dominance rarely seen in communications fields where early earnings typically disappoint. The $27,000 median debt sits right at the national average despite RIT's private school tuition, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 that signals genuine financial viability.

What explains the premium? RIT's location in Rochester—headquarters to companies like Paychex and Wegmans that need digital content creators—combined with its strong co-op program appears to give graduates direct access to corporate communication roles that pay far better than traditional media jobs. The 71% admission rate suggests this isn't about selectivity gatekeeping opportunities; it's about curriculum design and employer relationships that translate into actual jobs.

For parents worried about funding a communications degree, this is the rare program where the investment pencils out immediately. Your child would need to earn less than half what typical RIT grads make to fall below the national median, providing a substantial safety margin that most broadcasting programs simply don't offer.