COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Journalism bachelor's degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.
$19,689 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 30.6% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- $32,418 / year
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- +24% · Positive payoff
- Available price data
- 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+$129,670
$10,000Annual price+$89,670
$17,000Current college-wide context+$61,670
$20,000Annual price+$49,670
$30,000Annual price+$9,670
$40,000Annual price−$30,330
$50,000Annual price−$70,330
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,491Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$75,967$39,476 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 28 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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$17,354
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$23,250
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$75,967
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$246/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$17,354Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$28,679Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE45.2%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE89.5%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.
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$6,331
Estimated loan payment$246
114borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$75,967 vs. $56,278
$19,689 above the national median for the same field and credential.
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$57,530 median wageWI estimate · 740 jobs · 27-3023$43,030–$69,490 middle 50% of WI wages-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary$78,780 median wageWI estimate · 640 jobs · 25-1122$64,620–$100,500 middle 50% of WI wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeWriters and Authors$64,370 median wageWI estimate · 710 jobs · 27-3043$51,710–$77,220 middle 50% of WI wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$64,270 median wageWI estimate · 1,510 jobs · 27-3041$47,490–$82,950 middle 50% of WI wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFilm and Video Editors$53,430 median wageWI estimate · 240 jobs · 27-4032$37,090–$73,300 middle 50% of WI wages+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 3,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeProofreaders and Copy Markers$43,630 median wageWI estimate · 60 jobs · 43-9081$30,270–$48,790 middle 50% of WI wages-0.9% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$42,060 median wageWI estimate · 850 jobs · 27-4021$37,110–$56,940 middle 50% of WI wages-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10,700 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentBroadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$40,630 median wageWI estimate · 580 jobs · 27-3011$31,200–$61,240 middle 50% of WI wages-7.6% projected U.S. growth · 2,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Information
Educational Services
Finance and Insurance
Health Care and Social Assistance
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.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
$3,196 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $50,970
- Debt
- $26,000
- Annual net price
- $14,158
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
$3,049 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $48,935
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $14,305
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
$804 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $48,173
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $16,550
Lehigh University
$5,968 higher earnings · $3,750 less debt
- Earnings
- $81,935
- Debt
- $19,500
- Annual net price
- $36,931
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
147 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
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 →