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Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at American University

Name: Journalism Bachelor's Degree outcomes at American University
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 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 notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$10,357 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 37.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $9,088 / year
10-year scenario: −38% · 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$36,350

$12,000Annual price−$11,650

$24,000Annual price−$59,650

$36,000Annual price−$107,650

$42,000Current college-wide context−$131,650

$48,000Annual price−$155,650

$60,000Annual price−$203,650

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+25%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$44,387 → $55,636

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

60Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

82Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$76,984Awarding-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.

185Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

49Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

58Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

149Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$66,635$31,827 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 30 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$41,943

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$66,635

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$41,943Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$76,058Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE62.0%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE75.5%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.

$44,387Year 1

$66,635Year 4

$55,636Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.8% 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$5,553

Estimated loan payment$265

82borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$66,635 vs. $56,278

$10,357 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$105,390 median wageDC estimate · 1,720 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$83,910 median wageDC estimate · 180 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$129,300 median wageDC estimate · 1,050 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$83,920 median wageDC estimate · 3,310 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$110,970 median wageDC estimate · 260 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFilm and Video Editors$98,830 median wageDC estimate · 370 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$68,120 median wageDC estimate · 50 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$47,340 median wageU.S. estimate · 70 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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