Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Manchester Community College
CT · Associate's Degree · CIP 09.07
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Radio, Television, and Digital Communication degree from Manchester Community College earn a median salary of $43,240 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $37,502. The degree typically pays for itself in 15.6 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$28,041
Typical Career
$43,240
Top Performers
$58,675
Estimated break-even: 15.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$288
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,603. Most students can comfortably afford about a $288 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Connecticut buys what costs $1.15 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Finance & Insurance, Retail Trade.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$37,502
Nominal: $43,240 in Connecticut (COL 115.3% of national avg) · 13.3% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $22,116 | $27,891 | $39,058 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $28,041 | $43,240 | $58,675 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $40,189 | $57,769 | $75,372 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $43,240 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CT, which has a cost-of-living index of 115.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $43,240 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1530)
= $37,502 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter are predominantly in Health Care & Social Assistance, with percentages of 32.8%, 24.6%, and 18.8% respectively. This concentration suggests a strong alignment between the program and the needs of these sectors. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 15.6 years, indicating a substantial return on investment over time for those who pursue this educational path. Overall, while the program offers a solid earnings potential, the long-term financial benefits should be weighed against the cost of living and the time required to recoup educational expenses.
Compare with Another School
See how the Radio, Television, and Digital Communication degree at Manchester Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at Manchester Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.