What can you do with a Journalism degree from Boston University?

First, some facts. Of the Journalism graduates from Boston University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 69%, Journalism graduates from Boston University have a slightly higher likelihood (+2%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 69%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 25% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Journalism graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Journalism graduate from Boston University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 85%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2013 from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Journalism. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Congressional Correspondent
Boston University Washington News Service
Jan 2013 - May 2013
As a Congressional Correspondent, the position directly involves reporting and understanding political processes, making extensive use of journalism skills learned during the Bachelor's degree.

Intern
The Patriot Ledger
Jun 2013 - Nov 2013
The internship at The Patriot Ledger likely involves some writing and reporting experience, which is relevant, but it may not utilize the full spectrum of skills from a journalism degree.

Staff Writer
The Enterprise of Brockton
Nov 2013 - Jun 2016
The Staff Writer role at The Enterprise of Brockton involves significant writing and reporting responsibilities, which are core competencies developed during the pursuit of a Journalism degree.

Judicial Intern
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
May 2017 - Sep 2017
The Judicial Intern position focuses more on legal processes and court operations rather than journalism or reporting, and therefore does not directly apply the skills learned in a journalism degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Doctor of Law - JD
Boston University School of Law
2016 - 2019
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Journalism degree from Boston University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


After checking out the job history of folks who graduated with a Journalism degree from Boston University, it seems like a mixed bag in terms of relevant jobs. A lot of them have landed roles in communications, media production, and even reporting, which all tie back to their journalism training. For instance, positions like Sports Editor or Staff Writer definitely leverage their journalism skills, focusing on writing and reporting. However, there are also quite a few grads who ended up in roles that aren't really connected to journalism at all, like marketing coordinators or product specialists. This suggests that while some students found their way into directly relevant jobs, others veered off into fields that don’t really utilize their journalism expertise. It’s like it's split—some are thriving in journalism-related roles while others are off doing something totally different.

Overall, the common career paths tend to highlight a connection to journalism, especially in media production, reporting, and content creation. But there are plenty of cases where grads took routes that stray from the traditional journalism landscape, landing in areas like marketing, business development, or even legal roles. This could be either a reflection of the broader job market or personal choices, but it does tell us that having a journalism degree can lead to various opportunities, not all of which utilize those hard-earned news reporting skills. So, if you’re considering this path, just know you might end up in a role that uses your degree in ways you didn’t expect!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Journalism graduates (this is across all Journalism graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Boston University):

What kind of career trajectories do Journalism graduates from Boston University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career paths of Boston University Journalism graduates, it seems like they tend to start with various roles that are somewhat related to journalism but often branch out into different fields after a few years. For many of these graduates, their first job is in a hands-on reporting or writing role, such as internships or entry-level reporting positions. Some landed jobs as correspondents, while others started out as marketing or communications assistants. It’s clear that they are leveraging their journalism skills, whether directly or indirectly, in media, communications, and content creation.

However, as you move further along in their careers—around five to ten years after graduation—many of these individuals appear to have transitioned into roles that may not strictly fit the journalism mold. While some alumni indeed stay in journalism-related positions, like news producers or editors, others seem to shift into marketing, branding, or even completely different sectors like design or technical writing. This suggests a mixed bag: while some may have achieved solid careers in journalism or media, others have moved into roles that might not utilize their journalism degree as directly. Overall, it seems like BU Journalism grads make a strong initial impact in the journalism field, but their paths can be quite divergent as they gain experience and explore new opportunities.

How hard is a Journalism degree from Boston University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism at Boston University can be pretty challenging, but it’s also super rewarding if you're passionate about storytelling and media. The courses often involve a mix of writing, reporting, ethics, and multimedia skills, so there’s a lot to juggle. Plus, there are real-world experiences like internships and hands-on projects that can amp up the workload. Some students find it tough to balance everything, especially with deadlines for articles and projects, but if you stay organized and genuinely love what you're learning, it can be manageable. Overall, it's about average in terms of difficulty; it requires dedication and hard work, but if you're into journalism, it can also be a lot of fun!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Journalism.

Do Journalism graduates from Boston University tend to make good money?

So, looking at the jobs these Boston University Journalism grads have had, it seems like they've had a mixed bag in terms of income. The ones who graduated earlier, like in 2012 and 2013, have bounced around a lot in their careers, moving from roles like communications consultant to brand strategist, which might not scream big bucks, but they’ve also started their own consulting businesses, suggesting they may be doing okay on their own. Meanwhile, the more recent grads, especially those who landed positions at places like MLB or have leadership roles in media, might be seeing better pay, especially as the demand for skilled journalists and digital content creators grows. Overall, it looks like some are definitely making decent money while others are still finding their footing. It's kind of a mixed picture, but it seems like time and experience could really pay off for a lot of them!

What buzzwords do Journalism graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Journalism (this is across all Journalism graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Boston University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Journalism?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Journalism (ordered by the average relevance score of their Journalism graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Northwestern University 84 22
Ithaca College 77 11
Northeastern University 76 10
University of Maryland College Park 75 11
University of Houston 74 11
The University of Georgia 74 11
The University of Texas at Austin 70 21
Colorado State University 69 13
University of Missouri-Columbia 69 26
Boston University 69 12
University of Florida 68 29
Michigan State University 68 17
Ohio University 68 17
Hofstra University 68 10
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 63 10
San Jose State University 62 12
University of Oregon 62 31
Penn State University 61 16
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 61 10
Indiana University Bloomington 58 26
San Francisco State University 58 16
Temple University 57 26
University of North Texas 56 10
Columbia College Chicago 56 16
West Virginia University 54 10
The University of Kansas 52 16
Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia 51 10
Georgia State University 49 34
University of Arizona 48 15
University of Oklahoma 41 12