Radio and Television Broadcasting: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Radio and Television Broadcasting is a dynamic field dedicated to the creation, production, and distribution of audio and visual content across broadcast and digital platforms. This program equips students with the technical expertise, creative vision, and strategic understanding needed to thrive in fast-paced media environments as producers, directors, on-air talent, and industry leaders.
- Media Aesthetics: Explores the artistic and sensory elements that shape compelling audio and visual storytelling, including composition, pacing, tone, and audience engagement.
- Production Planning and Scheduling: Teaches systematic approaches to organizing content workflows, managing timelines, and coordinating resources for seamless on-air delivery.
- Writing and Editing for Broadcast: Develops skills in crafting concise, impactful scripts and refining content for clarity, accuracy, and broadcast suitability across formats.
- On-Air Performance and Direction: Provides hands-on training in vocal delivery, stage presence, camera technique, and real-time direction for live and recorded programming.
- Personnel and Facilities Management: Covers team coordination, workflow optimization, and the operational oversight of studios, equipment, and technical infrastructure.
- Marketing and Distribution Strategies: Examines audience targeting, content promotion, platform selection, and analytics to maximize reach and impact across traditional and digital channels.
- Media Law and Policy: Addresses legal frameworks governing content, intellectual property, privacy, censorship, and compliance with federal and international broadcasting regulations.
- Broadcast Technology Principles: Offers foundational knowledge of signal transmission, audio/video engineering, digital editing systems, and emerging tools shaping modern media production.
Radio and Television Broadcasting Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Radio and Television Broadcasting Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Radio and Television Broadcasting degrees, including Producers and Directors, Communications Teachers, Postsecondary and Film and Video Editors. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 268,820 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Producers and Directors 27-2012 | $83,480 | $43,060 - $198,530 | 145,270 | $40.13 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1122 | $77,800 | $47,100 - $160,210 | 29,260 | N/A |
| Film and Video Editors 27-4032 | $70,980 | $39,170 - $145,900 | 28,860 | $34.12 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists 27-3023 | $60,280 | $34,590 - $162,430 | 41,550 | $28.98 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys 27-3011 | $45,680 | $26,000 - $131,780 | 23,880 | $21.96 |
Radio and Television Broadcasting Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $42,072 in Arkansas to $99,778 in California—a 137% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 268,820 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Radio and Television Broadcasting by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Radio and Television Broadcasting programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Radio and Television Broadcasting is found at California State University (CSUN), Northridge (426 graduates), The University of Texas, Austin (337 graduates), Boston University (BU) (192 graduates), University of North Texas (UNT) (187 graduates), and California State University, Los Angeles (167 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,364 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
|
426 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
337 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
192 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
187 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
167 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
|
154 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
139 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
130 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
129 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
|
126 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
113 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Moorpark College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
99 | Moorpark, California | Public | moorparkcollege.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
99 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
95 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
88 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Ohio Media School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
87 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | beonair.com |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
86 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Ohio Media School (OMS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
86 | Valley View, Ohio | Private | beonair.com |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
79 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
|
74 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
72 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
|
68 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
67 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Ohio Media School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
67 | Norwood, Ohio | Private | beonair.com |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
62 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
61 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Fullerton College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullcoll.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| Colorado Media School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
59 | Denver, Colorado | Private | beonair.com |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
|
58 | Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
52 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| De Anza College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
47 | Cupertino, California | Public | deanza.edu |
| Los Angeles City College (LACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
46 | Los Angeles, California | Public | lacitycollege.edu |
| Lone Star College System (LSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
46 | The Woodlands, Texas | Public | lonestar.edu |
| Miami Media School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
46 | Doral, Florida | Private | beonair.com |
| Chaffey College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
45 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
45 | Valley Glen, California | Public | lavc.edu |
| Illinois Media School (IMS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
45 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | beonair.com |
| Palomar College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
43 | San Marcos, California | Public | www2.palomar.edu |
| Illinois Media School (IMS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
41 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | beonair.com |
| Aims Community College |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
40 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | aims.edu |
| Texas Southern University (TSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
40 | Houston, Texas | Public | tsu.edu |
| El Camino Community College District (ECC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Torrance, California | Public | elcamino.edu |
| Cosumnes River College (CRC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | Sacramento, California | Public | crc.losrios.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
32 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
| California State University (CSUMB) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Seaside, California | Public | csumb.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Diablo Valley College (DVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | Pleasant Hill, California | Public | dvc.edu |
| Southwestern College (SWC) |
Associate's
|
30 | Chula Vista, California | Public | swccd.edu |
| Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) |
Associate's
|
28 | Woodland Hills, California | Public | lapc.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Fredonia, New York | Public | fredonia.edu |
| Cypress College |
Associate's
|
26 | Cypress, California | Public | cypresscollege.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Plattsburgh, New York | Public | plattsburgh.edu |
| El Paso Community College (EPCC) |
Associate's
|
26 | El Paso, Texas | Public | epcc.edu |
| Riverside City College (RCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Riverside, California | Public | rcc.edu |
| San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | San Bernardino, California | Public | valleycollege.edu |
| Lake Land College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Mattoon, Illinois | Public | lakelandcollege.edu |
| Butte College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Oroville, California | Public | butte.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Glendale, California | Public | glendale.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| University of Florida (UF Online) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufonline.ufl.edu |
| College of San Mateo (CSM) |
Associate's
|
21 | San Mateo, California | Public | collegeofsanmateo.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
21 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| Troy University (TROY) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Troy, Alabama | Public | troy.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Private | pucpr.edu |
| Cuesta College |
Associate's
|
18 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | cuesta.edu |
| Grossmont College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | El Cajon, California | Public | grossmont.edu |
| Oxnard College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Oxnard, California | Public | oxnardcollege.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Associate's
|
18 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| University of Montevallo |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Montevallo, Alabama | Public | montevallo.edu |
| University of La Verne |
Bachelor's
|
15 | La Verne, California | Private | laverne.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Ohlone College |
Associate's
|
14 | Fremont, California | Public | ohlone.edu |
| Suffolk University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | suffolk.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| MiraCosta College |
Associate's
|
13 | Oceanside, California | Public | miracosta.edu |
| Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | sbcc.edu |
| University of Northwestern (UNW) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
13 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | unwsp.edu |
| San Diego City College |
Associate's
|
12 | San Diego, California | Public | sdcity.edu |
| Bradley University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | bradley.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Associate's
|
11 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Radio and Television Broadcasting programs
How much can I earn with a Radio and Television Broadcasting degree?
Salaries for Radio and Television Broadcasting graduates vary by role and location. Producers and Directors earn a median of $83,480 annually, while Communications Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $77,800. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $99,778 compared to $42,072 in Arkansas. Approximately 268,820 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Radio and Television Broadcasting programs?
Currently 167 accredited institutions offer Radio and Television Broadcasting degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include California State University (CSUN), Northridge (426 graduates), The University of Texas, Austin (337 graduates), and Boston University (BU) (192 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Radio and Television Broadcasting growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 7,830 in 2010 to a peak of 6,960 in 2020, before declining slightly to 5,653 in 2023-24. This represents a 28% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Radio and Television Broadcasting degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Producers and Directors, Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, and Film and Video Editors. Related occupations employ approximately 268,820 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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