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SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Journalism bachelor's degree programs in Illinois

Compare 9 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

9Programs reporting earnings

$55,641Median year-4 earnings

$23,500Median federal debt

8Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in Illinois

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Northwestern UniversityEvanston · $15,333 federal debt$80,258 2University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign · $22,300 federal debt$67,539 3DePaul UniversityChicago · $24,334 federal debt$61,708 4Loyola University ChicagoChicago · $23,000 federal debt$57,407 5Illinois State UniversityNormal · $23,500 federal debt$55,641 6Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston · Debt not reported$54,038 7Columbia College ChicagoChicago · $26,000 federal debt$51,639 8Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb · $25,750 federal debt$50,658 9Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale · $25,500 federal debt$49,880

CAREER CONTEXT IN IL

What related occupations pay in Illinois

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

27-3023News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists

State median wage: $60,590
Middle 50% wage range: $42,790–$86,060
State employment: 1,060
Projected growth: -5.9%
Annual openings: 3,400

10th–90th percentile: $36,680–$140,620

25-1122Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

State median wage: $78,150
Middle 50% wage range: $53,860–$100,600
State employment: 1,580
Projected growth: +2.1%
Annual openings: 2,400

10th–90th percentile: $46,730–$118,210

27-3041Editors

State median wage: $76,060
Middle 50% wage range: $62,370–$100,750
State employment: 4,560
Projected growth: -1.1%
Annual openings: 7,900

10th–90th percentile: $46,410–$107,850

27-3043Writers and Authors

State median wage: $68,220
Middle 50% wage range: $43,440–$97,280
State employment: 2,640
Projected growth: -0.3%
Annual openings: 11,900

10th–90th percentile: $41,830–$134,400

27-4032Film and Video Editors

State median wage: $72,460
Middle 50% wage range: $59,030–$91,340
State employment: 310
Projected growth: +3.7%
Annual openings: 3,100

10th–90th percentile: $46,710–$116,720

43-9081Proofreaders and Copy Markers

State median wage: $50,060
Middle 50% wage range: $37,770–$59,350
State employment: 300
Projected growth: -0.9%
Annual openings: 1,100

10th–90th percentile: $33,950–$77,030

27-3011Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

State median wage: $46,720
Middle 50% wage range: $32,190–$61,370
State employment: 770
Projected growth: -7.6%
Annual openings: 2,000

10th–90th percentile: $31,200–$82,720

27-4021Photographers

State median wage: $36,570
Middle 50% wage range: $32,300–$57,590
State employment: 2,150
Projected growth: -0.7%
Annual openings: 10,700

10th–90th percentile: $31,200–$96,770

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Illinois; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#	College	City	Median year-4 earnings	Median federal debt
1	Northwestern University	Evanston	$80,258	$15,333
2	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Champaign	$67,539	$22,300
3	DePaul University	Chicago	$61,708	$24,334
4	Loyola University Chicago	Chicago	$57,407	$23,000
5	Illinois State University	Normal	$55,641	$23,500
6	Eastern Illinois University	Charleston	$54,038	Not available
7	Columbia College Chicago	Chicago	$51,639	$26,000
8	Northern Illinois University	Dekalb	$50,658	$25,750
9	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	Carbondale	$49,880	$25,500

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Journalism in Illinois

What do Journalism bachelor's degree graduates earn in Illinois?

Across 9 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $55,641 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $23,500 among the 8 programs reporting federal debt.

Which Illinois colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Northwestern University has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.