Best institutions to study 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.
173 U.S. institutions graduated 6,089 Radio and Television students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 09.0701, a specialization of Radio (CIP 09.07), and leads most directly to the Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys occupation (BLS SOC 27-3011).
About Radio and Television programs
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.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Radio and Television program focuses on the theories, methods, and techniques essential for planning, producing, and distributing audio and video content. This program is designed for individuals aspiring to work as producers, directors, or managers in radio and television media organizations. Students will gain practical skills and theoretical knowledge to thrive in the dynamic field of communication and journalism. With a comprehensive curriculum that includes media aesthetics, writing, and broadcast technology, the program prepares students for various roles in the industry. It caters to those passionate about storytelling and media production, providing a solid foundation for a successful career in radio and television.
Students in the Radio and Television program learn critical skills such as speaking, active listening, and writing. The coursework covers essential knowledge areas, including communications and media, law and government, and broadcast technology. This blend of skills and knowledge equips graduates to effectively create and manage media content.
Credentials awarded
What Radio and Television graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree3,808 graduates / yr · 79 institutions63%
- Associate's degree1,361 graduates / yr · 73 institutions22%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years368 graduates / yr · 17 institutions6.0%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year333 graduates / yr · 35 institutions5.5%
- Master's degree183 graduates / yr · 16 institutions3.0%
- Award of less than 12 weeks31 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.5%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Radio and Television completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 7,066 |
| 2013 | 6,823 |
| 2014 | 7,134 |
| 2015 | 7,250 |
| 2016 | 7,230 |
| 2017 | 6,928 |
| 2018 | 6,750 |
| 2019 | 7,158 |
| 2020 | 6,866 |
| 2021 | 6,464 |
| 2022 | 6,598 |
| 2023 | 6,426 |
| 2024 | 5,587 |
| 2025 | 6,089 |
Top 50 institutions for Radio and Television, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicBachelor's | 463 | 57% | — | $27,278 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 312 | 89% | — | $28,892 |
| 3 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 232 | 89% | $21,956 | $37,225 |
| 4 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 209 | 61% | — | $26,773 |
| 5 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor's | 189 | 69% | — | $25,988 |
| 6 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CAPublicBachelor's | 178 | 70% | — | $24,650 |
| 7 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 156 | 53% | — | $22,133 |
| 8 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 155 | 75% | — | $29,112 |
| 9 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 132 | 84% | $28,851 | $37,556 |
| 10 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor's | 127 | 91% | — | $33,178 |
| 11 | Moorpark College Moorpark, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 122 | 44% | — | — |
| 12 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 117 | 50% | — | $28,753 |
| 13 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicBachelor's | 108 | 65% | — | $24,250 |
| 14 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor's | 93 | 76% | — | $22,487 |
| 15 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 89 | 95% | $14,799 | $24,611 |
| 16 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicBachelor's | 86 | 69% | — | $31,546 |
| 17 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicBachelor's | 82 | 55% | — | $31,977 |
| 18 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 78 | 45% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor's | 75 | 78% | — | $27,148 |
| 20 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 74 | 48% | — | — |
| 21 | Appalachian State University Boone, NCPublicBachelor's | 73 | 75% | — | $23,532 |
| 22 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 71 | 32% | — | — |
| 23 | Texas Southern University Houston, TXPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 70 | 22% | — | — |
| 24 | El Camino Community College District Torrance, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 68 | 42% | — | — |
| 25 | Riverside City College Riverside, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 67 | 37% | — | — |
| 26 | Long Beach City College Long Beach, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 64 | 30% | — | — |
| 27 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CAPublicAssociate's | 64 | 48% | — | — |
| 28 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NYPublicBachelor's | 64 | 60% | — | $30,241 |
| 29 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 64 | 65% | — | $29,086 |
| 30 | Ithaca College Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 59 | 76% | $28,970 | $30,355 |
| 31 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicBachelor's | 58 | 61% | — | $24,578 |
| 32 | Fullerton College Fullerton, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 58 | 34% | — | — |
| 33 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicBachelor's | 58 | 69% | — | — |
| 34 | Ohio Media School - Columbus Columbus, OHPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 56 | 61% | $26,341 | $18,896 |
| 35 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAssociate's | 54 | 48% | — | — |
| 36 | Colorado Media School Denver, COPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 52 | 71% | $30,942 | $18,896 |
| 37 | Ohio Media School - Valley View Valley View, OHPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 51 | 66% | $26,225 | $18,896 |
| 38 | Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 49 | 36% | — | — |
| 39 | Elon University Elon, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 49 | 84% | $33,688 | $33,894 |
| 40 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 48 | 35% | — | — |
| 41 | De Anza College Cupertino, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 45 | 68% | — | — |
| 42 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 43 | 49% | — | — |
| 43 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 41 | 40% | — | — |
| 44 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside, CAPublicBachelor's | 41 | 59% | — | $24,496 |
| 45 | Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 40 | 21% | — | — |
| 46 | Ohio Media School - Cincinnati Norwood, OHPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 38 | 65% | $25,812 | $15,006 |
| 47 | Hofstra University Hempstead, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 37 | 69% | $34,539 | $27,797 |
| 48 | Illinois Media School - Chicago Campus Chicago, ILPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 37 | 61% | $25,472 | $18,740 |
| 49 | Cosumnes River College Sacramento, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 36 | 40% | — | — |
| 50 | Aims Community College Greeley, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 36 | 40% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Radio field (CIP 09.07) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 28 states & territories
Where Radio and Television graduates come from. Each state links to all Radio programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3011, Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Radio and Television program can pursue careers as broadcast announcers, producers, and news analysts, among others. While the job outlook for this field is projected to decline by 5.5%, there are approximately 2,300 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $45,680, with a typical education requirement of a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 09.0701
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeysprimary SOC 27-3011 | $47,340 | -5.5% Decline | ~2,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Producers and Directors SOC 27-2012 | $90,360 | +4.9% About as fast as average | ~12,800 | Bachelor's degree |
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists SOC 27-3023 | $62,200 | -3.9% Decline | ~4,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Film and Video Editors SOC 27-4032 | $75,420 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~3,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1122 | $78,580 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~2,700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Radio and Television programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
- Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
- Operate control consoles.
- Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts.
- Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.
- Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
Tools and technology used
Other Radio specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Radio (CIP 09.07).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or shorter awards in this program.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, writing, critical thinking, and media production.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a broadcast announcer, producer, or journalist, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is projected to decline by 5.5%, with around 2,300 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Radio and Television?+
Radio and Television is CIP 09.0701 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Radio (CIP 09.07). NCES defines it as: 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.
How many institutions offer Radio and Television programs?+
173 U.S. institutions reported Radio and Television graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 28 states & territories, awarding 6,089 credentials in the year. That is 32.3% of all Radio graduates.
How much do Radio and Television graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys occupation, which Radio and Television most directly leads to, pays a median of $47,340 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Radio field report median earnings of $27,797 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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