Journalism: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 196 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$166,144 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
27.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
−64%Modeled 10-year ROI
$54,396Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$54,396Median reported earnings · year 4
$54,340Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,250Median federal debt
33thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
196Reporting programs
189With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,138
- Federal debt
- $20,500
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,497
- Federal debt
- $8,250
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,396
- Federal debt
- $24,250
- Reporting programs
- 196
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,760
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 22
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,479
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,146
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$49,456National median$54,39675th percentile$59,604
189 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Lehigh University$81,9352George Washington University$81,9273Northwestern University$80,2584University of Southern California$79,7765Chapman University$79,1356University of Wisconsin-Madison$75,9677Northeastern University$74,7098Fordham University$72,4759University of Miami$71,46610California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$70,829Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsSOC 27-3023 · 7 crosswalk linksCommunications Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1122 · 6 crosswalk linksEditorsSOC 27-3041 · 2 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 2 crosswalk linksBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc JockeysSOC 27-3011 · 1 crosswalk linksFilm and Video EditorsSOC 27-4032 · 1 crosswalk linksPhotographersSOC 27-4021 · 1 crosswalk linksProofreaders and Copy MarkersSOC 43-9081 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lehigh UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $81,935 | $19,500 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $81,927 | $25,000 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $80,258 | $15,333 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $79,776 | $16,250 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Chapman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orange, CA | $79,135 | $22,500 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $75,967 | $23,250 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $74,709 | $24,313 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Fordham UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $72,475 | $26,324 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of MiamiBachelor's Degree | Coral Gables, FL | $71,466 | $16,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $70,829 | $19,333 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $70,404 | $27,000 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $69,964 | $19,875 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $69,016 | $21,400 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $68,128 | $23,250 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Creighton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | $67,808 | $27,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $67,539 | $22,300 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | The College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Ewing, NJ | $67,038 | Not available | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $66,799 | $20,500 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | American UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $66,635 | $25,000 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, AR | $66,087 | $21,500 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $65,617 | $24,813 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $65,535 | $27,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $64,224 | $19,937 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $63,622 | $23,959 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $63,358 | $18,750 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Emerson CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $63,337 | $24,580 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Marquette UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $63,322 | $26,000 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Drake UniversityBachelor's Degree | Des Moines, IA | $62,969 | Not available | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Gonzaga UniversityBachelor's Degree | Spokane, WA | $62,743 | $27,000 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $62,670 | $26,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $62,670 | $26,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | University of KansasBachelor's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $62,394 | $22,811 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Long Island UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookville, NY | $62,355 | Not available | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $62,336 | $25,000 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $62,336 | $25,000 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Quinnipiac UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hamden, CT | $61,819 | $24,500 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $61,724 | $16,710 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $61,708 | $24,334 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Hampton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hampton, VA | $61,675 | $26,250 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Hofstra UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $61,609 | $25,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Ithaca CollegeBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $61,317 | $25,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $61,145 | $21,500 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $60,974 | $27,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $60,887 | $22,644 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $60,729 | $21,120 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | CUNY Brooklyn CollegeBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $60,272 | $10,290 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Biola UniversityBachelor's Degree | La Mirada, CA | $59,925 | $27,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $59,604 | $23,250 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $59,604 | $23,250 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $59,604 | $23,250 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $59,604 | $23,250 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $59,604 | $23,250 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $59,498 | $24,985 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | University at AlbanyBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | $59,495 | $25,000 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusBachelor's Degree | Saint Clairsville, OH | $59,276 | $24,208 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusBachelor's Degree | Chillicothe, OH | $59,276 | $24,208 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Ohio University-Southern CampusBachelor's Degree | Ironton, OH | $59,276 | $24,208 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, OH | $59,276 | $24,208 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Ohio University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Athens, OH | $59,276 | $24,208 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusBachelor's Degree | Zanesville, OH | $59,276 | $24,208 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $59,151 | $19,500 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | St. John's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $59,067 | $26,000 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | California Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $58,821 | $26,869 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | St Bonaventure UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Bonaventure, NY | $58,816 | $27,000 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Pepperdine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Malibu, CA | $58,801 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $58,795 | $22,506 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Texas Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $58,738 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | West Virginia UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $58,454 | $24,250 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $58,150 | $17,054 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of Florida-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $58,150 | $17,054 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $57,963 | $20,847 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $57,868 | $18,062 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Georgia College & State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milledgeville, GA | $57,843 | $25,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $57,697 | $18,075 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | University of Northern ColoradoBachelor's Degree | Greeley, CO | $57,603 | $21,750 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $57,492 | $16,900 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $57,461 | $19,877 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Loyola University ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $57,407 | $23,000 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | University of Alaska AnchorageBachelor's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $57,321 | Not available | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $57,260 | $16,875 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Suffolk UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $57,220 | $27,000 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $57,079 | $15,750 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Central Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Britain, CT | $56,990 | $26,909 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | University of IowaBachelor's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $56,933 | $25,907 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $56,418 | $21,500 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | University of MississippiBachelor's Degree | University, MS | $56,381 | $24,225 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $55,676 | $20,520 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $55,641 | $23,500 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $55,615 | $24,750 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $55,192 | $15,000 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | The University of AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $55,043 | $25,000 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Georgia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $54,732 | $27,000 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | University of MaineBachelor's Degree | Orono, ME | $54,717 | $27,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $54,425 | $13,717 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Georgia Southern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Statesboro, GA | $54,396 | $27,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $54,360 | $24,700 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | University of Nevada-RenoBachelor's Degree | Reno, NV | $54,322 | $19,500 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Wayne State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $54,188 | $29,000 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Duquesne UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $54,081 | Not available | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Eastern Illinois UniversityBachelor's Degree | Charleston, IL | $54,038 | Not available | -61% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.