Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at San Francisco State University

San Francisco State's broadcast and digital communication program starts graduates at modest wages but delivers something rare in this field: substantial earnings growth. That first-year salary of $28,753 nearly doubles to $52,237 by year four—an 82% jump that vastly outpaces the typical trajectory for broadcast grads. Within California, this program sits at the 60th percentile, beating the state median by $27,000 at the four-year mark.

The debt picture strengthens this value proposition. At $17,683, graduates carry roughly $7,500 less than the national median for this major and just slightly more than California's median. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 is manageable, especially given where earnings head. While some California programs like Dominguez Hills post higher starting salaries, SF State's trajectory suggests graduates find their footing in the competitive Bay Area media landscape—or they're leveraging the location to build careers that pay off within a few years.

For families concerned about immediate post-graduation finances, that first year will be tight in expensive San Francisco. But the data shows most graduates break through: if your student can manage that initial period (perhaps with family support or roommates), this program appears to deliver strong medium-term returns for a broadcast degree.