by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Radio & Television involves the study of Radio And Television. A Program That Focuses On The Theories, Methods, And Techniques Used To Plan, Produce, And Distribute Audio And Video Programs And Messages, And That Prepares Individuals To Function As Staff, Producers, Directors, And Managers Of Radio And Television Shows And Media Organizations. Includes Instruction In Media Aesthetics; Planning, Scheduling, And Production; Writing And Editing; Performing And Directing; Personnel And Facilities Management; Marketing And Distribution; Media Regulations, Law, And Policy; And Principles Of Broadcast Technology. Examples: [Radio, Television, And Film]. Read on to learn the key facts every radio & television major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering radio & television programs.
Across the country, radio & television is a popular field of study, with 5,653 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Radio & Television Schools ranking analyzes these 167 schools to determine the best overall colleges for radio & television students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of radio & television programs later in this article.
Coursework for Radio & Television develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations radio & television graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a radio & television program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a radio & television major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several radio & television degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 487 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,191 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,484 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 464 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to radio & television tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Master’s degree | 31.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.6% |
| Some college courses | 4.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in radio & television careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in radio & television can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to radio & television.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to radio & television.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Film and Video Editors | 354,104 | 10.0% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | 160,960 | 8.2% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
| Media Programming Directors | 98,123 | 11.2% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 92,155 | -0.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of radio & television graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,213 |
| 4 years | $40,945 |
| 5 years | $47,545 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for radio & television graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers radio & television grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $108,419 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Film and Video Editors | $89,576 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $74,101 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | $65,049 |
With 167 different radio & television programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased radio & television school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in radio & television, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | 11,282 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Other | 878 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
