Why More Students Are Choosing to Study Digital Media (Even If They Don’t Always Know What to Call It)

The Meaning of “Media” Has Changed. Fast.

There was a time when “media” meant broadcast journalism, newspapers, or maybe radio. But that definition doesn’t hold up anymore.

Today’s media world includes:

• Short-form video on platforms like TikTok or Reels
• Augmented reality campaigns
• Interactive storytelling
• Podcasts and YouTube channels
• Branded memes and social strategy
• UX design, animation, and even VR spaces

And because it's changing so rapidly, it's not surprising students are rushing toward it.

Companies are hiring across the board. Digital content roles have grown by nearly 50 percent since the pandemic. And they’re not limited to creative agencies.

You’ll find these roles in:

• Finance (social media for banks)
• Healthcare (patient education videos)
• Retail (ecommerce content and product explainers)
• Education (digital curriculum design)

When industries evolve, students pay attention.

Real Work Instead of Hypotheticals

One reason students are into media-related programs is simple: they get to make things that matter now. Not years from now. Not “someday if you're lucky.”

Coursework includes:

• Editing actual videos, not just learning the software
• Running mock social campaigns with real metrics
• Collaborating on web projects or interactive designs
• Freelancing or working on small paid gigs while in school

They leave with portfolios that employers actually want to see.

And along the way, many pick up flexible work that fits the same ecosystem. Usually, an essay editing company, for example, is a common gig — teaching students how to write clearly, meet deadlines, and communicate for real audiences.

Not Just a Job Path. A Way to Think.

A lot of people assume studying digital media is all about tech skills. And yes, there’s plenty of that — design, editing, content systems.

But the good programs dig deeper. They teach how people behave online, how trends spread, how digital communities form and fall apart.

Students learn:

• Storytelling and structure
• Data analysis and audience insights
• Psychology behind clicks and engagement
• How to work on fast-moving creative teams
• How to adapt to platforms that might not even exist yet
  
  

It’s not just about using the tools. It’s about knowing when and why to use them.

“It’s weird,” one student said, “because half of what I’m learning is stuff I kind of already knew. But now I can name it. Now I can use it.”

Career Connections Without the Cringe

Here’s something underrated: the way these programs connect students with the real world.

Networking doesn’t feel forced when it’s built into your class.

Many schools partner directly with companies. Others host public showcases. Students don’t have to cold-email strangers — the employers come to them.

For example:

• Columbia College Chicago partners with over 200 companies
• Ryerson invites companies to scout talent at student exhibitions
• Guest lectures from Adobe, Google, or local startups are common

Some students even get job offers after someone spots a class project online. "I started working with Essay Pay during my sophomore year," says one digital media student. "It helped me understand how to write for different audiences while earning some extra money. Those communication skills transferred perfectly to my content strategy classes."

The Bonus of Constant Change

Some subjects move slowly. Digital media doesn’t.

Courses update mid-semester. Professors redesign assignments because TikTok changes something. That would be a nightmare in most fields — but for these students, it's energizing.

They're not afraid of change. They expect it.

In fact, it’s part of the appeal. Students who grew up online are used to moving targets. Studying media lets them master something they’ve already lived with for years.

It’s Creative. It’s Strategic. It Pays.

Let’s be honest — money matters.

Digital media sits in a rare sweet spot: creative work that often pays well.

According to Glassdoor:

• Entry-level social media managers earn around $52,000
• Digital media specialists average $63,400
• Senior UX designers can make over $115,000

That’s a major reason why students (and their parents) take it seriously.

It’s not a starving-artist degree. It’s not a safe-but-boring one either. It’s something in between — creative, but with structure. Unpredictable, but employable.

For Digital Natives, It Just Makes Sense

Most of today’s students were already making digital content long before college.

They arrive with:

• Experience in basic video editing or Photoshop
• Their own podcast or YouTube channel
• Social followings, however small
• A deep sense of what’s “cringe” or “clickable”

Studying it formally turns those instincts into a craft.

They don’t need to unlearn old habits. They just need to sharpen them.

So Why Are These Programs Filling Up?

Because students are no longer satisfied with majors that prepare them for a version of the world that doesn’t exist anymore.

They want to work in real-time. On real problems. With real people.

And they want to understand not just how to use tools, but how people live through them.

Media studies used to mean watching old films and writing essays.

Now it means making something — a campaign, a game, a short film, a trend — and asking why it works, who it’s for, and how it could be better.

It’s technical. It’s human. It’s full of contradictions.

And somehow, that’s exactly what makes it feel right.