Journalism
Offered at 518 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 25 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 94 | — | — | — |
| Bachelor's | 324 | $41,407 | $58,361 | $20,628 |
| Master's | 63 | $58,723 | $73,586 | — |
| Doctoral | 5 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 7 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $42,179 | $67,062 | $25,125 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | PA | $42,179 | $67,062 | $25,125 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City Community College | OK | — | $45,531 | — |
| 2 | Onondaga Community College | NY | $19,346 | $39,738 | $11,500 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University | IL | — | $88,725 | — |
| 2 | George Washington University | DC | $53,658 | $84,878 | $20,500 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $52,252 | $83,397 | $19,500 |
| 4 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $38,051 | $82,412 | $15,500 |
| 5 | University of Southern California | CA | $51,919 | $82,049 | $15,500 |
| 6 | Northeastern University | MA | $45,499 | $81,499 | $21,333 |
| 7 | Lehigh University | PA | $65,957 | $79,576 | $23,250 |
| 8 | Elon University | NC | $46,855 | $79,453 | $23,250 |
| 9 | University of Miami | FL | $50,500 | $77,070 | $15,875 |
| 10 | Stony Brook University | NY | $39,896 | $75,756 | $24,249 |
| 11 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $44,423 | $75,422 | $20,373 |
| 12 | University of Maryland-College Park | MD | $53,114 | $75,029 | $16,750 |
| 13 | American University | DC | $50,406 | $74,645 | $20,500 |
| 14 | University of Kansas | KS | $46,649 | $73,345 | $19,500 |
| 15 | Syracuse University | NY | $50,132 | $73,318 | $23,250 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academy of Art University | CA | — | $100,886 | — |
| 2 | Hofstra University | NY | — | $85,567 | — |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | $61,586 | $84,415 | — |
| 4 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $55,275 | $83,223 | — |
| 5 | Kent State University at Kent | OH | $66,756 | $81,594 | — |
| 6 | George Washington University | DC | — | $81,308 | — |
| 7 | University of Iowa | IA | $65,566 | $79,650 | — |
| 8 | Boston University | MA | $53,780 | $79,302 | — |
| 9 | University of Missouri-Columbia | MO | $59,096 | $76,922 | — |
| 10 | St Bonaventure University | NY | $71,120 | $76,399 | — |
| 11 | University of Kansas | KS | $74,988 | — | — |
| 12 | American University | DC | $61,469 | $74,138 | — |
| 13 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center | NY | — | $73,590 | — |
| 14 | Quinnipiac University | CT | $51,088 | $73,583 | — |
| 15 | University of Southern California | CA | $52,231 | $73,486 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine College of Art & Design | ME | $49,970 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do journalism graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in journalism reports median earnings of $41,407. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
