Bachelor's0% vs national median4,295 grads tracked
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at Illinois State University
Ranked 95th of 355 bachelor's programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$39,689
middle 50%: $29,434 – $50,150
Median · 5 years out
$59,269
middle 50%: $44,994 – $75,453
Median · 10 years out
$75,042
middle 50%: $55,217 – $101,263
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Illinois State Communication graduates earn a $40k median in year one. Median pay reaches $75k after ten years of professional experience.
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
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,362 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
$59,635 · 5 yrs out
Worcester State University
$59,464 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$59,443 · 5 yrs out
Mary Baldwin University
$59,353 · 5 yrs out
Southern Connecticut State University
$59,322 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$59,311 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$59,198 · 5 yrs out
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$59,040 · 5 yrs out
Bridgewater State University
$58,998 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Brandywine
$58,944 · 5 yrs out
Hamline University
$58,698 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Illinois State University
Education (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$94,916 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$93,908 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$92,435 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$91,685 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$91,592 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$89,527 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$88,197 · 5 yrs out
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctorate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
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