# Journalism

> Journalism is a field of study in the Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs area.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/journalism
- CIP code: 09.04 (Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs)
- Colleges offering it: 385 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 68 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 136 | $19,346 | $48,497 | $11,000 |
| Bachelor's | 385 | $41,189 | $54,378 | $19,885 |
| Master's | 74 | $58,723 | $72,760 | $34,692 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 19 | $49,970 | $63,479 | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Lehigh University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lehigh-university-1472) | Bethlehem, PA | $81,935 | $23,250 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Washington, DC | $81,927 | $19,875 |
| [University of Southern California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Los Angeles, CA | $79,776 | $15,500 |
| [Chapman University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/chapman-university-510) | Orange, CA | $79,135 | $19,500 |
| [University of Wisconsin-Madison](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-madison-main-campus-3084) | Madison, WI | $75,967 | $18,351 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Boston, MA | $74,709 | $18,750 |
| [Fordham University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fordham-university-990) | Bronx, NY | $72,475 | $25,750 |
| [University of Miami](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-miami-2955) | Coral Gables, FL | $71,466 | $15,000 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | San Luis Obispo, CA | $70,829 | $15,250 |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Syracuse, NY | $70,404 | $22,572 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Communications Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/communications-teachers-postsecondary): $78,580 median pay
- [Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/editors): $77,920 median pay
- [Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/poets-lyricists-and-creative-writers): $76,910 median pay
- [Writers and Authors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/writers-and-authors): $76,910 median pay
- [Film and Video Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/film-and-video-editors): $75,420 median pay
- [News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/news-analysts-reporters-and-journalists): $62,200 median pay
- [Proofreaders and Copy Markers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/proofreaders-and-copy-markers): $51,120 median pay
- [Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/broadcast-announcers-and-radio-disc-jockeys): $47,340 median pay
- [Photographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/photographers): $44,660 median pay

## More in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

- [Communication and Media Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/communication-and-media-studies): 1,075 colleges
- [Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication): 450 colleges
- [Radio, Television, and Digital Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/radio-television-and-digital-communication): 378 colleges
- [Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/communication-journalism-and-related-programs-other): 75 colleges
- Publishing: 12 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/