Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Central Arkansas

Conway, AR · 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 trail the same-degree benchmark.

$13,089 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
61.4% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−107% · 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$43,189 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.

+39%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$31,911$44,341
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
17Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
24Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

81Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
57Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
47Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$31,625Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$43,189$11,564 above the preliminary benchmark

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$16,511

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

02 · BORROWING$26,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$43,189

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$281/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$16,511Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,029Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE89.5%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE53.5%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.

$31,911Year 1
$43,189Year 4
$44,341Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

7.8% 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$3,599
Estimated loan payment$281
24borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$43,189 vs. $56,278

$13,089 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$37,450 median wageAR estimate · 260 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$59,810 median wageAR estimate · 140 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$50,180 median wageAR estimate · 260 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$47,970 median wageAR estimate · 270 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k 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 degreeFilm and Video Editors$48,480 median wageAR estimate · 80 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$36,160 median wageAR estimate · 300 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$32,810 median wageAR estimate · 240 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.

Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

$22,898 higher earnings · $5,000 less debt

Earnings
$66,087
Debt
$21,500
Annual net price
$18,209
View outcomes →
Russellville, AR

Arkansas Tech University

$3,250 less debt · $3,541 lower annual net price

Earnings
$39,173
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$12,970
View outcomes →
Pine Bluff, AR

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

$3,858 lower annual net price

Earnings
$40,515
Debt
$28,807
Annual net price
$12,653
View outcomes →
College Park, MD

University of Maryland-College Park

$24,939 higher earnings · $3,250 less debt · $833 lower annual net price

Earnings
$68,128
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$15,678
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

17 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 →