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Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Kentucky University

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

Bowling Green, 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 trail the same-degree benchmark.

$8,617 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 53.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −88% · 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−$153,390

$8,000Annual price−$185,390

$11,000Current college-wide context−$197,390

$16,000Annual price−$217,390

$24,000Annual price−$249,390

$32,000Annual price−$281,390

$40,000Annual price−$313,390

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+24%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$35,050 → $43,572

52Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

42Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

79Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

72Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$28,000Awarding-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.

226Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

37Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

112Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

157Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,058Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$47,661$13,603 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 34 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$10,990

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

02 · BORROWING$25,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$47,661

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$270/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$10,990Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,188Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE93.9%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE55.6%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.

$35,050Year 1

$47,661Year 4

$43,572Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.8% 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$3,972

Estimated loan payment$270

72borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$47,661 vs. $56,278

$8,617 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

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