Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at University of Akron Main Campus

Akron, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
34
Optimistic
34
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,699/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (144,300 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #89 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs

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 $444K $450K $430K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.7x 8.8x 8.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.5x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 42% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 34 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,196
Out-of-state: $68,956 (6.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,924
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
9.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,905
20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,699 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 earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,000 represents roughly 10 months of the $31,699 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #89 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs, University of Akron Main Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $37,905 are relatively flat compared to the $31,699 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Akron Main Campus

University of Akron Main Campus has a 71% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 10,011 in Akron, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Akron Main Campus →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at University of Akron Main Campus?
A score of 34/100 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 $429,557 in decade earnings vs $444,312 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →