Bachelor's-8% vs national median476 grads tracked
Journalism at Illinois State University
Ranked 57th of 127 bachelor's programs in Journalism by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$33,883
middle 50%: $25,735 – $42,874
Median · 5 years out
$54,000
middle 50%: $41,981 – $68,574
Median · 10 years out
$73,307
middle 50%: $55,577 – $94,935
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Journalism (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Journalism majors see a median first-year salary of $34k. Earnings climb to $54k after five years and $73k by year ten.
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
7.8 yrs
≈ $9,527 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Texas at El Paso
$55,111 · 5 yrs out
Stephen F Austin State University
$55,062 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$55,019 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$54,923 · 5 yrs out
Texas Woman's University
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Tyler
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$53,944 · 5 yrs out
Sam Houston State University
$53,801 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Purchase
$53,726 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Lehman College
$53,647 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$53,545 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Colorado
$53,300 · 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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