Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,324/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (144,300 openings/yr)
ROI 14.7x earnings multiple (8.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #59 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $452K $457K $435K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.6x 14.7x 14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.2x 8.3x 7.9x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 42% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 39 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,016
Out-of-state: $55,304 (8.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,340
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,000
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,096
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,324 track close to the $31,253 national median for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 14.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,000 debt-to-$31,324 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #59 out of 140 programs, Arkansas State University's Radio, Television, and Digital Communication offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $31,324 to $39,096 shows 25% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Arkansas State University

With a 70% acceptance rate, Arkansas State University is moderately selective, enrolling 7,994 students in Jonesboro, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at Arkansas State University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Web and digital interface designers $98,090/yr
Producers and directors $83,480/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Other Schools

Other Majors at Arkansas State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Arkansas State University's Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program score?
This program scores 39/100 — on the lower end for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Radio, Television, and Digital Communication to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Radio, Television, and Digital Communication careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →