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Radio show host education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a radio show host. Radio show hosts usually study communication, journalism, or business. 75% of radio show hosts hold a bachelor's degree, and 9% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,187 real radio show host resumes to see exactly what radio show host education sections show.

The most common colleges for radio show hosts are the University of Maryland - College Park and the University of Maryland - College Park.

There are also many online radio show host courses to help get the education required to be a radio show host.

What education do you need to become a radio show host?

What degree do you need to be a radio show host?

The most common degree for radio show hosts is bachelor's degree, with 75% of radio show hosts earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 9% and associate degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 75%
  • Associate, 9%
  • Master's, 7%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a radio show host?

You should major in communication to become a radio show host. 28% of radio show hosts major in communication. Other common majors for a radio show host include journalism and business.

Most common colleges for radio show hosts

Radio show hosts often get their degrees at University of Maryland - College Park, San Francisco State University, and San Diego State University. Here are the most common colleges for radio show hosts in the US based on their resumes.
Radio show host common collegePercentages
University of Maryland - College Park7.41%
San Francisco State University6.48%
San Diego State University6.48%
University of Pittsburgh5.56%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale5.56%

Best majors for radio show hosts

RankMajorPercentages
1Communication28.1%
2Journalism11.6%
3Business11.0%
4English7.5%
5Liberal Arts4.0%

Best colleges for radio show hosts

The best colleges for radio show hosts are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Stanford University.

A radio show host with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for radio show hosts. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become radio show hosts.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

3. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

6. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

7. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

8. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

9. SUNY College at Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,369

Enrollment

5,229

10. SUNY College at Oswego

Oswego, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,440

Enrollment

7,039

20 best online courses for radio show hosts

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Top 10 most affordable universities for radio show hosts

The most affordable schools for radio show hosts are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for radio show hosts are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for radio show hosts.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

5. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for radio show hosts

The hardest universities for radio show hosts to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for radio show hosts are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for radio show hosts based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

4. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,365

8. Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA • Private

Admissions rate

36%

SAT average

1,330

9. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,449

10. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for radio show hosts

The easiest schools for radio show hosts to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a radio show host without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for radio show hosts.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

5. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

6. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

7. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

8. Rochester University

Rochester Hills, MI • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,002

9. Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,002

10. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,060

Average radio show host salary by education level

According to our data, radio show hosts with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $52,573 annually. Radio show hosts with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $41,552.
Radio show host education levelRadio show host salary
High School Diploma or Less$37,639
Bachelor's Degree$52,573
Some College/ Associate Degree$41,552

Radio show host education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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