Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA · 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.

$1,214 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
29.4% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−47% · 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$57,492 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.

Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5$31,102Not available
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
28Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
31Borrowers 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.

137Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
29Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
64Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
60Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$57,492$21,410 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 23 Parent PLUS borrowers.

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$14,251

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

02 · BORROWING$16,900

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$57,492

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$179/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$14,251Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$38,632Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE28.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE86.9%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.

$31,102Year 1
$57,492Year 4
Not availableYear 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.7% 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$4,791
Estimated loan payment$179
31borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$57,492 vs. $56,278

$1,214 above 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$62,200 median wageU.S. estimate · 4,140 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$135,000 median wageCA estimate · 3,140 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$98,030 median wageCA estimate · 14,830 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$86,480 median wageCA estimate · 8,390 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$88,490 median wageCA estimate · 8,110 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$57,490 median wageCA estimate · 300 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$47,840 median wageCA estimate · 7,980 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,340 median wageU.S. estimate · 1,620 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
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.

Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

$22,284 higher earnings · $650 less debt

Earnings
$79,776
Debt
$16,250
Annual net price
$32,740
View outcomes →
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University

$25 less debt · $1,973 lower annual net price

Earnings
$57,260
Debt
$16,875
Annual net price
$12,278
View outcomes →
Long Beach, CA

California State University, Long Beach

$1,900 less debt · $3,811 lower annual net price

Earnings
$55,192
Debt
$15,000
Annual net price
$10,440
View outcomes →
Northridge, CA

California State University, Northridge

$1,420 less debt · $7,230 lower annual net price

Earnings
$53,351
Debt
$15,480
Annual net price
$7,021
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

Not reported 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 →