Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO · 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 notably above the same-degree benchmark.
$12,738 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Debt pressure
31.0% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$15,040 / year
10-year scenario
−8% · 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+$60,160
$8,000Annual price+$28,160
$16,000Annual price−$3,840
$20,000Current college-wide context−$19,840
$24,000Annual price−$35,840
$32,000Annual price−$67,840
$40,000Annual price−$99,840
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+55%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$43,958 → $68,004257Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort73Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort308Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median472Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$40,731Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential4Recent 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.
1,192Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment136Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers357Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count720Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$69,016$36,027 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 178 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$20,268
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$21,400
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$69,016
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$227/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.
$43,958Year 1
$69,016Year 4
$68,004Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
3.9% 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$5,751
Estimated loan payment$227
472borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$69,016 vs. $56,278
$12,738 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$46,920 median wageMO estimate · 480 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$71,830 median wageMO estimate · 480 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$61,620 median wageMO estimate · 880 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$58,140 median wageMO estimate · 600 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$57,950 median wageMO estimate · 380 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$52,920 median wageMO estimate · 110 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$45,460 median wageMO estimate · 470 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$39,170 median wageMO estimate · 950 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
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.
San Luis Obispo, CA
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
$1,813 higher earnings · $2,067 less debt · $3,603 lower annual net price