Home › California State University-Monterey Bay › Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $24,496/yr (-22% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (144,300 openings/yr)

ROI 17.5x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #68 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	$525K	$521K	$484K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.7x	17.5x	16.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.8x	6.7x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	42%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	39	39	37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$29,748

Out-of-state: $77,268 (6.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,948

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,250

7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$46,621

90% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $24,496/yr fall 22% below the $31,253 national median for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Radio, Television, and Digital Communication's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $15,250 represents roughly 7 months of the $24,496 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #68 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs, California State University-Monterey Bay scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $46,621 show a 90% jump from the $24,496 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California State University-Monterey Bay

California State University-Monterey Bay has a 95% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 5,811 students in Seaside, CA. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Monterey Bay →

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 California State University-Monterey Bay

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at California State University-Monterey Bay?

A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Radio, Television, and Digital Communication careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $483,896 in decade earnings vs $525,142 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Radio, Television, and Digital Communication from California State University-Monterey Bay?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →