Bachelor's-15% vs national median708 grads tracked
Journalism at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 88th of 127 bachelor's programs in Journalism by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$34,073
middle 50%: $25,634 – $43,488
Median · 5 years out
$49,841
middle 50%: $38,073 – $63,419
Median · 10 years out
$65,274
middle 50%: $47,529 – $87,698
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 graduates start with a median salary of $34k. Median earnings reach $65k by the tenth year.
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
8.4 yrs
≈ $10,054 total interest
Same major at other universities
SUNY College at Brockport
$50,339 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$50,296 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
$50,276 · 5 yrs out
East Carolina University
$50,267 · 5 yrs out
Lewis University
$50,227 · 5 yrs out
Texas Southern University
$50,016 · 5 yrs out
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
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$92,179 · 5 yrs out
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