# Western Illinois University: Broadcasting / Digital Media (bachelor's)

Macomb, IL. IPEDS 149772, CIP 09.07. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-illinois-university/majors/broadcasting-digital-media

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $27,462
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $46,966 (U.S. median for this major: $49,542 across 156 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $29,054 (U.S. median $24,289)
- Rank in IL: 5 of 8 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the IL median for this major (8 colleges, $47,722): -$756
- Versus the U.S. median: -$2,576

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.38 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $46,966 minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| 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 |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Broadcasting / Digital Media at IL colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia College Chicago | $54,357 | $25,420 | $26,598 | 52% |
| Lewis University | $52,722 | not reported | $17,028 | 67% |
| Northwestern University | $51,471 | $15,500 | $29,167 | 95% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $48,479 | $25,000 | $36,079 | 73% |
| Western Illinois University | $46,966 | $29,054 | $12,937 | 45% |
| North Central College | $45,838 | $27,000 | $21,044 | 64% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $42,113 | $25,025 | $13,297 | 62% |
| Bradley University | $42,006 | $27,000 | $22,719 | 76% |

## Careers
- Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012): median wage not reported metro, $81,080 IL, $90,360 U.S.; U.S. jobs 4% by 2035
- Web and Digital Interface Designers (SOC 15-1255): median wage not reported metro, $85,710 IL, $104,000 U.S.; U.S. jobs 6% by 2035
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (SOC 27-3023): median wage not reported metro, $60,590 IL, $62,200 U.S.; U.S. jobs -5.9% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).