Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Journalism bachelor's degree outcomes at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · 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.

$3,615 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
43.4% 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$52,663 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.

+60%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$32,082$51,252
82Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
69Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
112Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
94Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$55,059Awarding-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.

334Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
63Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
143Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
190Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$52,663$19,674 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 54 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$18,976

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

02 · BORROWING$22,849

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$52,663

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$242/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$18,976Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$33,678Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE41.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE73.9%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.

$32,082Year 1
$52,663Year 4
$51,252Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.5% 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$4,389
Estimated loan payment$242
94borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$52,663 vs. $56,278

$3,615 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$62,390 median wageTN estimate · 600 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$66,630 median wageTN estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEditors$59,550 median wageTN estimate · 1,390 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWriters and Authors$58,870 median wageTN estimate · 1,260 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$57,880 median wageTN estimate · 560 jobs · 27-4032+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$51,120 median wageU.S. estimate · 4,580 jobs · 43-9081-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$48,290 median wageTN estimate · 970 jobs · 27-3011-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$37,950 median wageTN estimate · 780 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.

Murfreesboro, TN

Middle Tennessee State University

$2,349 less debt · $5,617 lower annual net price

Earnings
$49,932
Debt
$20,500
Annual net price
$13,359
View outcomes →
Memphis, TN

University of Memphis

$6,579 lower annual net price

Earnings
$49,445
Debt
$26,875
Annual net price
$12,397
View outcomes →
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

$18,166 higher earnings · $3,516 less debt · $2,311 lower annual net price

Earnings
$70,829
Debt
$19,333
Annual net price
$16,665
View outcomes →
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

$14,876 higher earnings · $549 less debt · $4,621 lower annual net price

Earnings
$67,539
Debt
$22,300
Annual net price
$14,355
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

112 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 →