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Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at Northwestern University

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

Evanston, IL · 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.

$23,980 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 19.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $43,145 / year
10-year scenario: +19% · Positive 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+$172,580

$12,000Annual price+$124,580

$24,000Annual price+$76,580

$29,000Current college-wide context+$56,580

$36,000Annual price+$28,580

$48,000Annual price−$19,420

$60,000Annual price−$67,420

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+43%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$50,426 → $72,140

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

26Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

98Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

101Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$69,443Awarding-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.

Not reportedStudents receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

Not reportedPell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

Not reportedFederal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

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

Observed year-4 earnings$80,258$45,450 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$29,167

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

02 · BORROWING$15,333

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$80,258

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$163/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$29,167Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$91,250Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE7.7%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE95.1%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.

$50,426Year 1

$80,258Year 4

$72,140Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.4% 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$6,688

Estimated loan payment$163

101borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$80,258 vs. $56,278

$23,980 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$60,590 median wageIL estimate · 1,060 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,150 median wageIL estimate · 1,580 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$76,060 median wageIL estimate · 4,560 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$68,220 median wageIL estimate · 2,640 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$72,460 median wageIL estimate · 310 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$50,060 median wageIL estimate · 300 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,720 median wageIL estimate · 770 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$36,570 median wageIL estimate · 2,150 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent

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