Compare 17 Radio and Television. programs in the West. Average earnings: $41,385.
With top graduates earning $52,237, Radio and Television stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $10K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
San Francisco State University's Radio and Television program leads with graduates earning $52,237, well above the $41,385 average across 17 Western programs. Washington State University follows at $48,961, demonstrating how regional publics compete effectively in specialized fields against private institutions.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. San Francisco State graduates borrow $15,371 and face just a 7.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making strong outcomes truly affordable.
Highest program earnings: $52,237
Strong outcomes with 96% acceptance
7.1% payment burden | Excellent
17.6% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $52,237 | 190 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $48,961 | 127 | $19,500 | Good | $29,968 | High | |
| #3 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | $47,884 | 20 | $23,510 | Manageable | $41,309 | High |
| #4 | University Of La VernePrivate | $46,849 | 7 | $23,500 | Manageable | $27,977 | High |
| #5 | University Of IdahoPublic | $46,747 | 16 | $21,982 | Manageable | $21,162 | High |
| #6 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $45,157 | 96 | $21,221 | Manageable | $28,923 | High |
| #7 | $44,249 | 63 | $12,750 | Good | $16,836 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $44,074 | 189 | $13,750 | Good | $16,538 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $40,021 | 396 | $13,872 | Good | $13,522 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $39,684 | 51 | $15,000 | Manageable | $20,820 | High | |
| #11 | $38,276 | 45 | $19,000 | Manageable | $23,489 | High | |
| #12 | $35,981 | 140 | $19,500 | Challenging | $23,519 | High | |
| #13 | $35,970 | 41 | $13,807 | Manageable | $11,061 | High | |
| #14 | $35,695 | 74 | $15,000 | Manageable | $25,565 | High | |
| #15 | Hawaii Pacific UniversityPrivate | $34,489 | 9 | $22,000 | High | $29,362 | High |
| #16 | Seattle UniversityPrivate | $33,821 | 41 | $19,883 | Challenging | $37,520 | High |
| #17 | $33,442 | 154 | $13,000 | Manageable | $12,526 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
