Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · 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.
$2,090 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
−60% · 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−$88,120
$8,000Annual price−$120,120
$13,000Current college-wide context−$140,120
$16,000Annual price−$152,120
$24,000Annual price−$184,120
$32,000Annual price−$216,120
$40,000Annual price−$248,120
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+93%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$26,591 → $51,442Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort19Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort30Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median44Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot 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.
104Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers65Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count55Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$54,188$21,199 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$12,766
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$29,000
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$54,188
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$307/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.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$26,591Year 1
$54,188Year 4
$51,442Year 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$4,516
Estimated loan payment$307
44borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$54,188 vs. $56,278
$2,090 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$62,760 median wageMI estimate · 960 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$87,670 median wageMI estimate · 630 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$76,910 median wageU.S. estimate · 47,940 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$63,090 median wageMI estimate · 1,690 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$59,100 median wageMI estimate · 360 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$46,640 median wageMI estimate · 650 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$44,660 median wageU.S. estimate · 970 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentProofreaders and Copy Markers$35,530 median wageMI estimate · 140 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k 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.