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2025 Audiovisual Communications Degree Guide

If you want to be involved in the world of broadcast or film production without being in the spotlight, a degree in audiovisual communications might be right for you.

This degree will teach you everything you need to know about television and film production so you can play an integral role behind the scenes. You will take classes on lighting, sound recording, camera operation, studio operations, video editing and mixing, and television and film production in order to master the necessary skills. These classes will provide you with the ability to capture scenes and stun an audience.

You may choose to specialize in an area of interest. Concentrations available at some colleges are Photographic and Film Technology or Video Technology, Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology, or a Recording Arts Technology Technician.

Audiovisual Communications Degrees in the United States

#152 Most Popular Major
6.4k Degrees Awarded
239 Schools Offering Degrees

Audiovisual Communications was the 152nd most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 6,420 degrees in this year alone. Our 2025 Best Audiovisual Communications Schools ranking analyzes 41 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for audiovisual communications students. Explore this or one of our many other custom audiovisual rankings further below.

2025 Best Colleges for Audiovisual Communications
2025 Overall Best Audiovisual Communications Colleges >

Best Audiovisual Communications Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Audiovisual Communications
Bachelor's Degrees in Audiovisual Communications
Master's Degrees in Audiovisual Communications

Audiovisual Communications Degree Requirements

A career in Audiovisual Communications is great for someone who enjoys setting a scene and capturing the perfect shot. Those who are successful in this career have a strong background in video technology and strong technical skills in order to work with sophisticated cameras and editing software. Professionals are also creative and detail oriented to ensure recorded scenes are unique and interesting.

Hours within the Audiovisual Communications field may be irregular depending on the type of job you pursue. Those involved with broadcast often work fulltime with occasional extended hours depending on project deadlines. Those who pursue a career within the motion pictures industry will work long hours while filming a movie, but may be unemployed between jobs. Some graduates may choose to pursue jobs with television stations or studios that will have more consistent hours.

An internship or summer job within the Audiovisual Communications field would be extremely beneficial to students. These will provide students with hands-on experience working with production equipment and software and will give them the opportunity to build connections within their desired field. The experience will also make graduates standout when looking for a job after graduation.

Getting Accepted Into an Audiovisual Communications Program

audiovisual communications degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional audiovisual certifications required to pursue a career in this field.

Types of Audiovisual Communications Degrees

Audiovisual degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in audiovisual communications to the highest audiovisual degree, a . Audiovisual Communications 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

An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to audiovisual, with approximately 27.9% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for audiovisual workers below.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 25.8%
Bachelor’s Degree 22.6%
High School Diploma 21.7%
Some College Courses 15.2%
Post-Secondary Certificate 14.5%

See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in audiovisual communications have received.

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This of course varies depending on which audiovisual career you choose.

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Audiovisual Graduate

Average Number of Jobs
$19.7k Average Starting Salary
10% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

A degree in Audiovisual Communications is the basis for many career paths. Some graduates decide to work in news broadcast while others pursue careers in the motion picture industry or with television networks. This major provides the knowledge and skills to work in any type of audiovisual job.

Solid Growth Projected for Audiovisual Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your audiovisual degree? Audiovisual Communications careers are expected to grow 9.5% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to audiovisual communications.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians 94,000 12.8%
Film and Video Editors 40,000 17.0%
Broadcast Technicians 32,900 -3.2%
Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators 26,900 7.2%
Sound Engineering Technicians 18,100 6.5%

How Much Money Do Audiovisual Grads Make?

Audiovisual Communications graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $19,700 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $5,660 to as high as $56,703. As you might expect, salaries for audiovisual graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

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High Paying Careers for Audiovisual Majors

Salaries for audiovisual communications graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers audiovisual grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Film and Video Editors $86,830
Sound Engineering Technicians $63,500
Television, Video, and Motion Picture Camera Operators $61,750
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians $48,940
Broadcast Technicians $46,770

Getting Your Audiovisual Communications Degree

With over 681 different audiovisual 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 audiovisual school rankings to help you with this.

One of 3 majors within the Communications Technologies & Support area of study, Audiovisual Communications has other similar majors worth exploring.

Audiovisual Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Recording Arts Technology/Technician 3,352
Radio & Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician 1,559
Photographic & Film/Video Technology/Technician & Assistant 871
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other 628
Voice Writing Technology/Technician 10

View All Audiovisual Concentrations >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Graphic Communications 7,995
Communications Technology 855
Other Communication Technology 180

View All Audiovisual Related Majors >

References

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