Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO · 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.

$8,818 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
51.6% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−90% · 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$47,460 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.

+50%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$37,644$56,304
37Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
50Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
52Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
36Borrowers 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.

128Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
21Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
80Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
62Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,174Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$47,460$8,286 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$15,327

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

02 · BORROWING$24,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$47,460

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$260/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$15,327Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,622Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE98.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE31.5%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.

$37,644Year 1
$47,460Year 4
$56,304Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.6% 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$3,955
Estimated loan payment$260
36borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$47,460 vs. $56,278

$8,818 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$60,770 median wageCO estimate · 590 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$69,200 median wageCO estimate · 560 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$77,870 median wageCO estimate · 1,830 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$76,830 median wageCO estimate · 1,300 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$84,620 median wageCO estimate · 380 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 · 120 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$50,660 median wageCO estimate · 310 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$47,070 median wageCO estimate · 1,140 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.

Greeley, CO

University of Northern Colorado

$10,143 higher earnings · $2,750 less debt

Earnings
$57,603
Debt
$21,750
Annual net price
$17,760
View outcomes →
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

$9,619 higher earnings · $8,750 less debt

Earnings
$57,079
Debt
$15,750
Annual net price
$25,346
View outcomes →
Fort Collins, CO

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

$6,068 higher earnings · $2,000 less debt

Earnings
$53,528
Debt
$22,500
Annual net price
$21,279
View outcomes →
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

$20,079 higher earnings · $2,200 less debt · $972 lower annual net price

Earnings
$67,539
Debt
$22,300
Annual net price
$14,355
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

52 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 →