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Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Illinois Media School

Chicago, IL · Private for-profit · Certificate

a smaller institution with 36 students in Chicago, IL.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $18,740 place Illinois Media School below the $23,947 national median for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 48% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduates.

Median debt of $9,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $18,740 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

At #8 of 16 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs, Illinois Media School scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $31,890 show a 70% jump from the $18,740 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication offers 6 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

40 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
35
Low End
40
Score
43
High End
Earnings $18,740/yr (-22% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (52% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (144,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$329K
12.0% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
8 of 8
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$31,890
70% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
Web and digital interface designers $98,090 +7.0% 33%
Producers and directors $83,480 +4.9% 58%
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
Web and digital interface designers
$98,090
+7.0% growth 33% AI-proof
Producers and directors
$83,480
+4.9% growth 58% AI-proof

View all 8 career paths with full salary data →

About Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Careers

You’ll likely start your career getting hands-on experience, either on a fast-paced production set or behind a screen. As a production assistant or junior editor, you’ll be in the trenches—wrangling equipment, logging footage, and making rough cuts in software like Adobe Premiere. Or you might begin as a junior web designer, using tools like Figma to build wireframes and prototypes for websites and apps.

Read the full Radio, Television, and Digital Communication career guide →

Compare & Explore

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Overview

View all 16 schools offering Radio, Television, and Digital Communication →

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Other Schools

University of Georgia ($41,858) University of Missouri-Columbia ($38,728) Husson University ($33,271) Southern Maine Community College ($29,853) Austin Community College District ($26,951) International College of Broadcasting ($25,882) Baker College ($24,167) SUNY Broome Community College ($20,705)

Other Majors at Illinois Media School

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($21,902) Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($12,032)

Explore the Degree Alternative

Compare Radio, Television, and Digital Communication degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Illinois Media School's Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program score?
At 40/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
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 job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
Is Illinois Media School a good choice for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication despite lower starting pay?
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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication?
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication connects to 6 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication workers?
With approximately 144,300 annual openings across mapped careers, Radio, Television, and Digital Communication offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →