by our College Data Analytics TeamRadio & Television was the 131st most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 6,559 degrees in this year alone. This 401 less than the prior year, a decrease of 6.1%.
This year's Best Radio & Television Schools ranking compares 71 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom TV rankings further below.
Radio & Television majors are found most commonly in careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is important. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most TV degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic radio and television program qualifications, to serve in some TV careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of TV degrees. You can get anything from a in radio and television to the highest TV degree, a . Radio & Television programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to TV, with approximately 52.5% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to TV tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 53.0% |
| Master’s Degree | 10.2% |
| High School Diploma | 9.7% |
| Some College Courses | 9.4% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 7.6% |
Most workers in TV have at least a bachelor's degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in radio and television have received.
The education level required is different depending on the TV career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your TV degree? Radio & Television careers are expected to grow 8.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to radio and television.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Producers and Directors | 151,200 | 12.2% |
| Film and Video Editors | 40,000 | 17.0% |
| Communications Professors | 37,500 | 10.0% |
| Radio and Television Announcers | 36,500 | -11.6% |
| Broadcast News Analysts | 5,600 | -1.8% |
As you might expect, salaries for TV graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for radio and television graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers TV grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Broadcast News Analysts | $91,990 |
| Producers and Directors | $89,840 |
| Film and Video Editors | $86,830 |
| Communications Professors | $78,090 |
| Radio and Television Announcers | $51,630 |
With over 311 different TV degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased TV school rankings to help you with this.
Radio & Television is one of 2 different types of Radio, Television & Digital Communication programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Media Arts | 10,069 |
| Other Radio, Television, & Digital Communication | 1,041 |
