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Communications · Journalism Rank #63 of 178

Journalismat Boston University

Graduates earn $42,857/yr in their first year — about 25.0% above the national Journalism average. Base-case 10-year earnings $654K; scenarios range from $572K to $681K depending on AI disruption.

Boston, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
36 AT RISK
37
Optimistic
29
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,857
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$654K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Boston University

While the earnings figures look solid, your success hinges on leveraging BU's unique advantages in a rapidly changing field. The university's strong reputation and deep connections within the Boston media ecosystem—from The Boston Globe to NPR affiliate WBUR—provide a powerful launchpad. Many of your peers won't end up in traditional newsrooms; instead, they'll pivot into higher-paying corporate communications, public relations, and content strategy roles where strong storytelling skills are prized. The high AI risk score reflects the automation of basic reporting, not the decline of critical analysis and investigative work. Your key challenge will be building a portfolio that proves you can do more than write a simple press release. Your most important class is your internship; secure a prestigious one every summer to build the network that will define your career.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$572K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score29/100
Earnings Multiple2.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$654K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$681K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Boston University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Journalism graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
2
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
3
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
4
Film and video editors
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$70,980/yr
High
5
News analysts, reporters, and journalists
-3.9% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$60,280/yr
High
6
Proofreaders and copy markers
-0.6% 10-yr growth · 1,900 openings/yr
$49,210/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Journalism

How Boston University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
George Washington University
DC · Private nonprofit
44
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
Same state (MA)
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
35
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Northwestern University
IL · Private nonprofit
39
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.7x
ROI
Top score
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
56
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
14.3x
ROI
University of Maryland-College Park
MD · Public
55
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
14.3x
ROI
Also at Boston University

Other top programs at Boston University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Boston University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Journalism at Boston University

What does a 36/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Journalism at Boston University?

At 36/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Journalism programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Journalism at Boston University?

The 64% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

What do students actually pay for Journalism at Boston University?

The 59% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $260,672. At a net cost of $107,984, the earnings multiple improves substantially.