Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Youngstown State University

Youngstown State's Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program shows decent momentum, but parents should know they're working with limited data—fewer than 30 recent graduates means these figures could shift significantly with a larger sample. That caveat aside, the program ranks in the 60th percentile among Ohio schools, placing it solidly above the state median of $29,086 though nowhere near the $50,000+ earnings seen at Miami University campuses.

The debt load here is genuinely competitive: $26,250 sits below both state and national medians, giving graduates a manageable 0.87 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one. More encouraging is the 27% earnings jump by year four, reaching $38,262. While that's still modest compared to other fields, it's meaningful growth in a notoriously tight-margin industry. For context, many media programs see graduates plateau or move laterally rather than climb steadily.

The real question is whether your student has realistic expectations about media careers. If they're passionate about broadcasting and understand they're choosing this work despite the pay, Youngstown offers a reasonable entry point without crushing debt. But if they're hoping for quick financial returns, the top Miami University programs—earning nearly $20,000 more annually—demonstrate what's possible at more selective Ohio schools, albeit likely at higher cost.