Bachelor's+22% vs national median6,193 grads tracked
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ranked 11th of 355 bachelor's programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$45,268
middle 50%: $33,581 – $57,070
Median · 5 years out
$72,167
middle 50%: $53,880 – $96,081
Median · 10 years out
$102,579
middle 50%: $71,938 – $146,284
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
Communication graduates from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn $45k in year one. Median pay reaches $103k by year 10.
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
6 yrs
≈ $6,991 total interest
Same major at other universities
Fashion Institute of Technology
$74,419 · 5 yrs out
Washington and Lee University
$73,883 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$73,669 · 5 yrs out
Bryant University
$73,245 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$72,772 · 5 yrs out
Quinnipiac University
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$72,162 · 5 yrs out
University of Richmond
$72,014 · 5 yrs out
Utah Valley University
$69,615 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$69,419 · 5 yrs out
Penn State World Campus
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
James Madison University
$68,505 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
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