Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL · Public · Federal field 0904

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$1,235 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
45.4% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−63% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$55,043 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+59%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$35,509$56,575
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
18Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
45Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
92Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$75,920Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,420

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$25,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$55,043

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$265/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →
AVERAGE NET PRICE$22,420Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$33,382Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE76.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE73.4%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$35,509Year 1
$55,043Year 4
$56,575Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.8% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,587
Estimated loan payment$265
92borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$55,043 vs. $56,278

$1,235 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$43,440 median wageAL estimate · 530 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$63,760 median wageAL estimate · 300 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$66,950 median wageAL estimate · 180 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$63,330 median wageAL estimate · 530 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$74,410 median wageAL estimate · 120 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$51,120 median wageU.S. estimate · 4,580 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$38,530 median wageAL estimate · 300 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$36,130 median wageAL estimate · 530 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Birmingham, AL

Samford University

$6,880 less debt

Earnings
$50,652
Debt
$18,120
Annual net price
$32,622
View outcomes →
Auburn, AL

Auburn University

$4,500 less debt

Earnings
$44,704
Debt
$20,500
Annual net price
$24,323
View outcomes →
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin-Madison

$20,924 higher earnings · $1,750 less debt · $5,066 lower annual net price

Earnings
$75,967
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$17,354
View outcomes →
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

$15,786 higher earnings · $5,667 less debt · $5,755 lower annual net price

Earnings
$70,829
Debt
$19,333
Annual net price
$16,665
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

45 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →