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Publishing

Only 30 colleges in the country offer Publishing, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $36,148.

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About Publishing

This page covers Publishing 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.

Publishing is a focused area of study within Communication. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $36,148 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 30 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 371 students complete it each year, most walking away with a master's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $17,585
Median Earnings · 4yr: $36,148
Colleges Offering: 30
Graduates / Year: 371
Avg Net Price / yr: $23,072

How Much Do Publishing Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Publishing, a typical graduate earns $36,148, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $18,399 and $48,069, 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 $17,585 at one year out to $36,148 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$17,585

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$36,148

4-Year National Median

Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.

Earnings Range

Not every Publishing 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.

$18,399 25th pct.

$36,148 Median

$48,069 75th pct.

Is the Cost Worth It?

At median 4-year earnings of $36,148 and an estimated $92,288 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 15.0 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 11 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 371 students who complete Publishing programs each year, the majority (65%) earn a master's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

32% 65%

Master's 65%

Bachelor's 32%

Post-Bacc Cert. 3%

What Can You Do With a Publishing Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Publishing graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and Editor pays the most at $77,920/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what an Editor earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↘ -1.1% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Editor

$77,920

$57K $106K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 7,900 openings/yr 92K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Writing Active Listening Critical Thinking Speaking

Day-to-day responsibilities

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.

Top Colleges for Publishing

Not sure where to study Publishing? These 17 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 score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Brigham Young University, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Brigham Young University Provo, UT · Nonprofit	55	67.8%	$15,564	$75,790
2	New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit	53	9.2%	$37,050	$82,509
3	Pace University New York, NY · Nonprofit	48	75.9%	$30,892	$70,378
4	George Washington University Washington, DC · Nonprofit	35	47.1%	$36,586	$90,873
5	Emerson College Boston, MA · Nonprofit	33	51.3%	$49,180	$62,832
6	Portland State University Portland, OR · Public	27	90.9%	$9,552	$57,906
7	Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, PA · Nonprofit	26	81.4%	$28,819	$61,723
8	Belmont University Nashville, TN · Nonprofit	17	95.3%	$33,147	$55,930
9	Rosemont College Rosemont, PA · Nonprofit	9	76.3%	$20,150	$48,555
10	Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX · Public	8	94%	$14,260	$49,634
11	Texas A&M University-Victoria Victoria, TX · Public	4	95.9%	$8,109	$54,467
12	McDaniel College Westminster, MD · Nonprofit	3	77.9%	$21,916	$60,663
13	George Mason University Fairfax, VA · Public	2	87.5%	$17,915	$76,343
14	Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO · Public	2	90.5%	$17,613	$49,827
15	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, ND · Public	2	95%	$15,543	$62,203
16	Lewis-Clark State College Lewiston, ID · Public	2	87.7%	$15,635	$46,001
17	Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI · Nonprofit	1	77.8%	$20,301	$47,314

View all colleges

Ranked by Publishing graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Publishing program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Publishing degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Publishing Degree: Pros & Cons

Publishing carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 1 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $17,585 at graduation to $36,148 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.

CONS

Below-average earnings Four-year median of $36,148 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Advanced degree often expected Top 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 areas 1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Long earnings breakeven At median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 15.0 years.

Publishing Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Publishing graduates earn?

$36,148 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $18,399 and $48,069, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Publishing degree?

$17,585 in the first year out. That grows to $36,148 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 Publishing degree?

Editor is one path, and it pays a median of $77,920 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 Publishing program take?

Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many Publishing students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.

How many colleges offer Publishing?

30 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 Publishing degree worth it?

$36,148 median earnings four years out against $23,072 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Publishing and Communication?

Publishing is the narrower of the two: Communication covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Publishing-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 Publishing graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Publishing 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.