Best Radio Broadcasting Schools and Programs

Find out what you should look for in a school with a strong radio broadcasting program. Read about three top-ranked schools with radio broadcasting programs, and review the degree programs you could pursue at each school.

<h2 id="section---WhatAreSomeCharacteristicsOfTheBestRadioBroadcastingSchools">What Are Some Characteristics of the Best Radio Broadcasting Schools?</h2> <p>The best radio broadcasting schools will provide plenty of training in state-of-the-art radio studios or audio facilities. You might look for a school in a major radio market that offers internship opportunities with well-known radio stations. The best schools might be associated with journalism prizes and centers. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreThreeTopRadioBroadcastingPrograms">What Are Three Top Radio Broadcasting Programs?</h3> <h3 id="section---ColumbiaUniversityInNewYorkNY">Columbia University in New York, NY</h3> <p>Columbia was U.S. News &amp; World Report's third-ranked national university in 2019. The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism hosts the Pulitzer Prizes and the duPont Awards for radio and television journalism. Students have access to radio and TV studios with video and audio production services; audio post-production facilities are also available. Radio students at Columbia produce UpTown Radio, a weekly radio broadcast and website. </p> <p>Dual degree programs are available that allow you to study at Columbia as well as an international institution. Locations include the Sciences Po School of Journalism in Paris and the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. You might apply for a paid internship in Central Europe, India or Argentina. Recipients of the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism pursue a specialized curriculum that includes seminars with business and media leaders. </p> <p>In a Master of Science (M.S.) in Journalism program, you'd learn journalism basics from working broadcast journalists. You could work on in-house broadcasting initiatives and produce a significant piece of radio journalism for your final project. Experienced journalists might pursue the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Journalism for expertise in health and science, arts and culture or political journalism. Degree program options include: </p> <ul><li>M.A. or M.S. in Journalism </li><li>M.S. in Journalism/Master of Business Administration </li><li>M.S. in Journalism and Computer Science </li><li>M.S. in Journalism/Master of International Affairs </li><li>M.S. in Journalism/M.A. in Religion </li><li>M.S. in Journalism/Juris Doctor </li><li>Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Communications </li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfCaliforniaUCInBerkeley">University of California (UC) in Berkeley</h3> <p>UC Berkeley was ranked 22nd among national universities by U.S. News &amp; World Report in 2019. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism provides field production and audio training through FRONTLINE West, a student-staffed, duPont award-winning partnership with the Public Broadcasting Service. J-School students who specialize in radio also produce the weekly North Gate Radio show; some students produce features for a local FM station. </p> <p>An interdisciplinary bachelor's program in media studies is available that provides instruction in mass media and journalism topics. In the Master of Journalism program, you'd join students who've won Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. Students who specialize in radio may use digital audio recorders and editing software for some courses. You might hone your multimedia skills at the Knight Digital Media Center, a partnership between the J-School and the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The following degree is offered: </p> <ul><li>Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies </li><li>Master of Journalism </li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfSouthernCaliforniaUSC">University of Southern California (USC)</h3> <p>USC tied for 22nd in U.S. News &amp; World Report's ranking of national universities in 2019. The USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism sponsors the Institute of Sports, Media and Society, the California Healthcare Foundation Center for Health Reporting and the <i>International Journal of Communication</i>. </p> <p>You could earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in journalism and concentrate your electives in broadcast and video journalism. If you qualify for the elite Annenberg Scholars program for freshmen, you'll have access to special opportunities and activities, like exclusive retreats and guest speaking events. Annenberg offers undergraduate study abroad opportunities in Amsterdam, Australia, Hong Kong, London and New Zealand. </p> <p>As a graduate student, you might enroll in a journalism master's program with a focus in broadcasting. You could gain production and on-air experience with KXSC - the 24-7 student radio station - and its Annenberg Radio News program. Graduate international study programs were available in Cape Town, Hong Kong, London and Shanghai. The following degrees are available: </p> <ul><li>Bachelor of Arts in Journalism </li><li>M.A. in Specialized Journalism </li><li>M.S. in Journalism </li><li>M.A. in Global Communication/M.S. in Global Media and Communications </li><li>Ph.D. in Communication </li></ul><h2 id="section---TenBroadcastingAndJournalismSchools">Ten Broadcasting and Journalism Schools</h2> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>College/University</th><th>Institution Type</th><th>Location</th><th>Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition*</th></tr> <tr><td>California State University</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Northridge, CA</td><td>$8,000</td></tr> <tr><td>University of La Verne</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>La Verne, CA</td><td>$14,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Southern Methodist University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Dallas, TX</td><td>$47,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Northwestern University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Evanston, IL</td><td>$55,000</td></tr> <tr><td>New York University</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>New York, NY</td><td>$45,000</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Oklahoma</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Norman, OK</td><td>$9,000</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Florida</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Gainesville, FL</td><td>$13,000</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Georgia</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Athens, GA</td><td>$11,000</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Missouri</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Columbia, MO</td><td>$10,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Emory University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Atlanta, GA</td><td>$42,000</td></tr> </table><p><i>*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education</i></p>