U.S. median for this major: $49,542.
College Scorecard field of study; 67 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 62% 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 $28,254. College Scorecard.
Western Illinois University 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 Western Illinois University'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 | $6,941 | $30,402 | 2.7 years |
| $30–48k | $8,787 | $38,487 | 3.4 years |
| $48–75k | $12,062 | $52,832 | 4.7 years |
| $75–110k | $16,294 | $71,368 | 6.4 years |
| $110k+ | $19,701 | $86,290 | 7.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (31% 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 ($46,966) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $11,169 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 Western Illinois University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Illinois University
- Acceptance rate: 71% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 45% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $54,163
- Full cost breakdown · all 72 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Illinois University
- Communications$51,203
- Journalism—
- Graphic Communications$50,751
Western Illinois University Broadcasting / Digital Media questions
How much do Western Illinois University Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates earn?
Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median $46,966 four years after graduating and $27,462 one year after. The U.S. median for Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates across 156 colleges is $49,542.
How much debt do Western Illinois University Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates of Western Illinois University is $29,054, about 62% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,289.
Is Western Illinois University a good school for Broadcasting / Digital Media in Illinois?
On pay, Broadcasting / Digital Media graduates of Western Illinois University earn $46,966 four years out, $756 below the median for the same major across 8 Illinois colleges ($47,722) and $2,576 below the U.S. median ($49,542). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Illinois University rank for Broadcasting / Digital Media in Illinois?
Of 8 Illinois colleges reporting Broadcasting / Digital Media graduate earnings, Western Illinois University ranks 5th. 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 $81,080 in Illinois 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: “Western Illinois University Broadcasting / Digital Media: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-illinois-university/majors/broadcasting-digital-media (College Scorecard and BLS data).