U.S. median for this major: $49,542.
College Scorecard field of study; 16 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 59% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,289.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $57,219. College Scorecard.
NCC Broadcasting / Digital Media: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Broadcasting / Digital Media nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses NCC's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,507 | $51,404 | 5.1 years |
| $30–48k | $13,486 | $55,427 | 5.5 years |
| $48–75k | $16,362 | $67,248 | 6.7 years |
| $75–110k | $20,590 | $84,625 | 8.4 years |
| $110k+ | $26,961 | $110,810 | 11.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (64% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates 4 years after graduating ($45,838) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $10,041 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Broadcasting / Digital Media at Illinois colleges
Every Illinois college we cover that reports Broadcasting / Digital Media graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia College Chicago | $54,357 | $25,420 | $26,598 | 52% |
| 2 | Lewis University | $52,722 | — | $17,028 | 67% |
| 3 | Northwestern University | $51,471 | $15,500 | $29,167 | 95% |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago | $48,479 | $25,000 | $36,079 | 73% |
| 5 | Western Illinois University | $46,966 | $29,054 | $12,937 | 45% |
| 6 | North Central College | $45,838 | $27,000 | $21,044 | 64% |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $42,113 | $25,025 | $13,297 | 62% |
| 8 | Bradley University | $42,006 | $27,000 | $22,719 | 76% |
6 more Illinois colleges offer Broadcasting / Digital Media but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates
Producers and Directors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Web and Digital Interface Designers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -5.9% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at NCC, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NCC
- Acceptance rate: 77% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 64% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $60,123
- Full cost breakdown · all 58 majors · overview
Related majors at NCC
- Communications—
- Public Relations and Advertising$60,573
- Journalism—
- Graphic Communications—
NCC Broadcasting / Digital Media questions
How much do NCC Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates earn?
Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates of North Central College earn a median $45,838 four years after graduating and $30,167 one year after. The U.S. median for Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates across 156 colleges is $49,542.
How much debt do NCC Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates of North Central College is $27,000, about 59% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,289.
Is NCC a good school for Broadcasting / Digital Media in Illinois?
On pay, Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates of North Central College earn $45,838 four years out, $1,884 below the median for the same major across 8 Illinois colleges ($47,722) and $3,704 below the U.S. median ($49,542). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NCC rank for Broadcasting / Digital Media in Illinois?
Of 8 Illinois colleges reporting Broadcasting / Digital Media graduate earnings, North Central College ranks 6th. The highest is Columbia College Chicago at $54,357.
What jobs do Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $85,040 in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area and $90,360 nationally. Others include web and digital interface designers and news analysts, reporters, and journalists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “North Central College Broadcasting / Digital Media: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/north-central-college/majors/broadcasting-digital-media (College Scorecard and BLS data).