Home › Boston University › Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Boston University

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,225/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (144,300 openings/yr)

ROI 2.2x earnings multiple

Ranked #94 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$570K	$561K	$514K
Earnings Multiple	2.2x	2.2x	2.0x
Probability of Field Employment	48%	42%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	33	33	28

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$260,672

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$107,984

59% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,167

7.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,649

58% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Boston University's Radio, Television, and Digital Communication graduates start at $37,225/yr — above the $31,253 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The financial case is thin at 2.2x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Radio, Television, and Digital Communication's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,167 represents roughly 7 months of the $37,225 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #94 of 140 Radio, Television, and Digital Communication programs, Boston University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $58,649 show a 58% jump from the $37,225 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Boston University

Only 11% of applicants gain admission to Boston University, reflecting elite selectivity, serving 17,850 students in Boston, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $107,984 — 59% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Boston University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Web and digital interface designers $98,090/yr

Producers and directors $83,480/yr

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Other Schools

Other Majors at Boston University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication at Boston University?

A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Radio, Television, and Digital Communication careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $513,740 in decade earnings vs $569,538 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Boston University a hidden gem for Radio, Television, and Digital Communication?

After financial aid, the average student pays $107,984 over four years — 59% below the $260,672 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →