Best colleges for Radio in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Loyola University Chicago, Northwestern University and Columbia College Chicago are the top bachelor's Radio programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Loyola University Chicago leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $26,227, College Scorecard. Northwestern University, Lewis and Clark Community College and University of Chicago award the most Radio degrees in Illinois: 731, 47 and 45 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 Illinois colleges offer Radio and award 1,292 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program focuses on the principles and practices of media communication across various platforms. This program is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in broadcasting,…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,227 | 34 | 73% | $33,454 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,611 | 731 | 95% | $14,799 | $15,500 |
| 3 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,191 | 32 | 52% | $28,087 | $25,420 |
| 4 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,742 | 8 | 76% | $21,768 | $27,000 |
| 5 | North Central College Naperville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,167 | 2 | 64% | $20,052 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Chicago State University Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,643 | 11 | 15% | — | $38,434 |
| 7 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,462 | 7 | 45% | — | $29,054 |
| 8 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,057 | 16 | 62% | — | $25,025 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois Media School - Chicago Campus Chicago Private for-profit · Certificate | $18,740 | 97 | 61% | $25,472 | $9,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Radio degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 731 | $24,611 |
| 2 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public | 47 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 45 | Not reported |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 34 | $26,227 |
| 5 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 32 | $24,191 |
| 6 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 8 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 9 | Lake Land College Mattoon Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 16 | $25,057 |
ShowHide the other 17 Illinois colleges offering Radio
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Media School - Chicago Campus | Chicago | Private for-profit | 97 |
| Illinois Media School | Chicago | Private for-profit | 71 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 56 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 11 |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford | Public | 11 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | Chicago | Public | 8 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Public | 8 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 7 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Chicago | Public | 5 |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake | Public | 4 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines | Public | 2 |
| South Suburban College | South Holland | Public | 2 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Web and Digital Interface Designers (SOC 15-1255).
What Web and Digital Interface Designers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Radio programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Radio degrees?+
Northwestern University (731 graduates a year), Lewis and Clark Community College (47 graduates a year) and University of Chicago (45 graduates a year) award the most Radio degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 Illinois colleges offer Radio.
What is the best college for Radio in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Loyola University Chicago leads among bachelor's Radio programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $26,227, College Scorecard. Northwestern University and Columbia College Chicago follow. By degrees awarded, Northwestern University is the largest, with 731 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Radio program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Loyola University Chicago tops the list at $26,227. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Web and Digital Interface Designers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Web and Digital Interface Designers in Illinois is $98,960 (median $85,710), across about 2,050 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Radio program?+
The Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program focuses on the principles and practices of media communication across various platforms. This program is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in broadcasting,…
What is the job outlook for Web and Digital Interface Designers?+
The national job outlook is about +7.0% growth with around 9,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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