Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at University of Idaho

University of Idaho's Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program shows promising earnings trajectory, though you should note this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates. Starting at $32,662, grads see healthy income growth to $46,747 by year four—a 43% jump that outpaces many communications programs where earnings often plateau early. The program ranks in the 68th percentile nationally, beating the $29,976 national median by a decent margin.

The debt picture looks favorable at $26,000, landing in the 25th percentile (meaning 75% of similar programs saddle students with more debt). The 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than their first-year salary—manageable for an entry-level media career. Since this is Idaho's only program in this field, you won't find closer-to-home alternatives for in-state tuition, which matters given how cost-sensitive media careers can be.

The real question is whether that year-four salary of $46,747 represents a plateau or continued growth. Media careers can diverge sharply based on specialization—broadcast producers and digital strategists follow different paths than entry-level production assistants. The small sample size means a few successful graduates could skew these numbers optimistically. For a student serious about media production or digital content, this program delivers reasonable value, but they should have realistic conversations about geographic flexibility after graduation, since advancing in this field often requires moving to larger markets.