Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · 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.

$3,493 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
49.3% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−70% · 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$52,785 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.

+29%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,926$47,621
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
26Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
52Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
64Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$43,925Awarding-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.

188Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
99Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
125Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,058Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$52,785$18,727 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 40 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$18,851

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

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$52,785

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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$18,851Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$34,391Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE92.9%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE71.4%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.

$36,926Year 1
$52,785Year 4
$47,621Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.3% 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$4,399
Estimated loan payment$276
64borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$52,785 vs. $56,278

$3,493 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$47,530 median wageKY estimate · 370 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$62,380 median wageKY estimate · 470 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$59,430 median wageKY estimate · 490 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$48,780 median wageKY estimate · 350 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$62,330 median wageKY estimate · 60 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$47,170 median wageKY estimate · 380 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentProofreaders and Copy Markers$46,380 median wageKY estimate · 70 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$36,170 median wageKY estimate · 340 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.

Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University

$500 less debt · $7,861 lower annual net price

Earnings
$47,661
Debt
$25,500
Annual net price
$10,990
View outcomes →
Highland Heights, KY

Northern Kentucky University

$10,660 lower annual net price

Earnings
$44,834
Debt
$26,122
Annual net price
$8,191
View outcomes →
Frankfort, KY

Kentucky State University

$10,811 lower annual net price

Earnings
$42,363
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$8,040
View outcomes →
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin-Madison

$23,182 higher earnings · $2,750 less debt · $1,497 lower annual net price

Earnings
$75,967
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$17,354
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 →