Journalism graduates earn $56,278 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,588 and $73,923. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Journalism as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Communication and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Journalism is a focused area of study within Communication. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $56,278 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 522 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 12,280 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$34,577
Median Earnings · 4yr
$56,278
Colleges Offering
522
Graduates / Year
12,280
Avg Net Price / yr
$20,106
How Much Do Journalism Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Journalism, a typical graduate earns $56,278, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $40,588 and $73,923, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $34,577 at one year out to $56,278 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$56,278
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$54,396
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Journalism graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$40,58825th pct.
$56,278Median
$73,92375th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $56,278 and an estimated $80,424 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.1 years.
Based on outcomes from 409 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 12,280 students who complete Journalism programs each year, the majority (82%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
82%
Bachelor's82%
Master's13%
Associate's4%
What Can You Do With a Journalism Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Journalism graduates show up in 7 different occupations, and Communications Teachers pay the most at $78,580/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Doctoral or professional degree2,400 openings/yr29K employed nationally
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionInstructingSpeakingWriting
Day-to-day responsibilities
Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.
Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
Read, evaluate and edit manuscripts or other materials submitted for publication, and confer with authors regarding changes in content, style or organization, or publication.
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingActive Learning
Day-to-day responsibilities
Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.
Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.
Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.
Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.
Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.
Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.
Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.
Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.
Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.
Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
High school diploma or equivalent10,700 openings/yr52K employed nationally
Active ListeningSpeakingService OrientationActive LearningJudgment and Decision Making
Day-to-day responsibilities
Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.
Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
Top Colleges for Journalism
Not sure where to study Journalism? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Journalism graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Communication Programs
Journalism is not the only path through Communication: 5 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Journalism program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Journalism shows 4 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $56,278 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $34,577 at graduation to $56,278 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 41,400 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availabilityOffered at 522 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas5 related careers show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Journalism Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Journalism graduates earn?
$56,278 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $40,588 and $73,923, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Journalism degree?
$34,577 in the first year out. That grows to $56,278 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Journalism degree?
Communications Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $78,580 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Journalism program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Journalism bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Journalism?
522 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Journalism degree worth it?
$56,278 median earnings four years out against $20,106 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Journalism and Communication?
Journalism is the narrower of the two: Communication covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Journalism-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Journalism graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Journalism graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Journalism graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average -1.4% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Film & Video Editor is among the strongest-growth roles at +3.7%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Communication Programs
Other programs in Communication. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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