WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-17% vs national median420 grads tracked

Journalism at Eastern Illinois University

Ranked 95th of 127 bachelor's programs in Journalism by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$33,861
middle 50%: $25,922 – $41,534
Median · 5 years out
$49,171
middle 50%: $37,474 – $64,235
Median · 10 years out
$61,630
middle 50%: $44,276 – $78,529

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Journalism (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Eastern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Journalism earn a median $33,861 one year after graduating, rising to $61,630 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 17% below the national median of $58,956 for this field, ranking 95th of 127 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
8.6 yrs
≈ $10,220 total interest

Same major at other universities

Kent State University
$49,706 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$49,630 · 5 yrs out
University of West Georgia
$49,446 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$49,328 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Southern University
$49,323 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$49,292 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$49,062 · 5 yrs out
West Texas A&M University
$48,878 · 5 yrs out
Northeastern State University
$48,791 · 5 yrs out
Marshall University
$48,272 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University Southeast
$47,939 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Eastern Illinois University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$97,476 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$93,454 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$91,284 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$88,374 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$86,616 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$75,747 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$75,308 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$75,308 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$73,331 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$70,826 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$70,402 · 5 yrs out

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