Journalism: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Journalism graduates earn a median $56,278 four years after finishing — $7,918/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 8.5 years. Federal data pools 369 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 10,526 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Journalism ranks #128 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 37% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lehigh University | PA | $81,935 |
| 2 | George Washington University | DC | $81,927 |
| 3 | Northwestern University | IL | $80,258 |
| 4 | University of Southern California | CA | $79,776 |
| 5 | Chapman University | CA | $79,135 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $75,967 |
| 7 | Northeastern University | MA | $74,709 |
| 8 | Fordham University | NY | $72,475 |
| 9 | University of Miami | FL | $71,466 |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $70,829 |
| 11 | Syracuse University | NY | $70,404 |
| 12 | Elon University | NC | $69,964 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Journalism pay grow after graduation?
From $24,026 one year out to $56,278 four years out — a $32,252 climb, or 134% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Journalism each year?
About 10,526 bachelor's graduates a year across 369 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.