Education
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $78,580
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
ProgramsCommunication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Journalism
CIP09.04
385 colleges offer Journalism. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 385
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $54,378
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $19,885
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 68
- Associate's
- 136
- Bachelor's
- 385
- Master's
- 74
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 1
- Doctoral
- 8
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 19
What it covers
About Journalism
Journalism is part of Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs: instructional programs that focus on how messages in various media are produced, used, and interpreted within and across different contexts, channels, and cultures, and that prepare individuals to apply communication knowledge and skills professionally.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 09.04.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 09.04.
- Journalism
- Broadcast Journalism
- Photojournalism
- Business and Economic Journalism
- Cultural Journalism
- Science/Health/Environmental Journalism
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 68 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 136 | $48,4974 yrs after · 2 colleges | $11,0001 college |
| Bachelor's | 385 | $54,3784 yrs after · 176 colleges | $19,885142 colleges |
| Master's | 74 | $72,7604 yrs after · 22 colleges | $34,69214 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 8 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 19 | $63,4794 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Journalism graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofit · 25 graduates
$81,935
debt $23,250
- 2
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 48 graduates
$81,927
debt $19,875
- 3
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · 88 graduates
$79,776
debt $15,500
- 4
Orange, CA · Private nonprofit · 30 graduates
$79,135
debt $19,500
- 5
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public · 190 graduates
$75,967
debt $18,351
- 6
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 45 graduates
$74,709
debt $18,750
- 7
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofit · 35 graduates
$72,475
debt $25,750
- 8
Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofit · 23 graduates
$71,466
debt $15,000
- 9
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · 86 graduates
$70,829
debt $15,250
- 10
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit · 152 graduates
$70,404
debt $22,572
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Journalism by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Arts, design and media
Editors
- Median pay
- $77,920
- Outlook
- Decline
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Listening
Arts, design and media
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Arts, design and media
Writers and Authors
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
Arts, design and media
Film and Video Editors
- Median pay
- $75,420
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Arts, design and media
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
- Median pay
- $62,200
- Outlook
- Decline
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Office and administrative support
Proofreaders and Copy Markers
- Median pay
- $51,120
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
Arts, design and media
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
- Median pay
- $47,340
- Outlook
- Decline
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
More in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Journalism
How many colleges offer Journalism?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Journalism at these degree levels: certificate (68 colleges), associate's (136 colleges), bachelor's (385 colleges), master's (74 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (1 college), doctoral (8 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (19 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Journalism graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Journalism earn $54,378 a year four years after finishing, across 176 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Journalism graduates earn the most?
Lehigh University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Journalism: $81,935 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.