by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Broadcast Journalism covers Broadcast Journalism. A Program That Focuses On The Methods And Techniques For Reporting, Producing, And Delivering News And News Programs Via Radio, Television, And Video/film Media; And That Prepares Individuals To Be Professional Broadcast Journalists, Editors, Producers, Directors, And Managers. Includes Instruction In The Principles Of Broadcast Technology; Broadcast Reporting; On- And Off-Camera And Microphone Procedures And Techniques; Program, Sound, And Video/film Editing; Program Design And Production; Media Law And Policy; And Professional Standards And Ethics. Continue reading for the key facts every broadcast journalism major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering broadcast journalism programs.
In the U.S., broadcast journalism is a widely-pursued major, with 757 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Broadcast Journalism Schools ranking analyzes these 54 schools to determine the best overall colleges for broadcast journalism students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of broadcast journalism programs later in this article.
Programs in Broadcast Journalism develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations broadcast journalism graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a broadcast journalism program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a broadcast journalism major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several broadcast journalism degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 14 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 72 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 633 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 38 |
People currently working in careers related to broadcast journalism tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 48.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.4% |
| Some college courses | 10.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in broadcast journalism careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying broadcast journalism prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to broadcast journalism.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to broadcast journalism.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | 160,960 | 8.2% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 92,155 | -0.2% |
| Editors | 11,763 | 3.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of broadcast journalism graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,675 |
| 4 years | $49,199 |
| 5 years | $57,526 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for broadcast journalism graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers broadcast journalism grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $108,419 |
| Editors | $100,346 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $74,101 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
With 54 different broadcast journalism programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased broadcast journalism school rankings to help you.
Students interested in broadcast journalism, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Journalism | 9,378 |
| Journalism, Other | 1,098 |
| Photojournalism | 91 |
| Science/Health/Environmental Journalism | 10 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
