WhatGradsMake
Master's+5% vs national median317 grads tracked

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ranked 24th of 124 master's programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$51,638
middle 50%: $37,051 – $74,986
Median · 5 years out
$75,467
middle 50%: $54,919 – $107,668
Median · 10 years out
$91,987
middle 50%: $63,610 – $133,355

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (master's) graduates.

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

Graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's master's program in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs earn a median $51,638 one year after graduating, rising to $91,987 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 5% above the national median of $72,014 for this field, ranking 24th of 124 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
5.6 yrs
≈ $6,353 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$78,335 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$77,776 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$76,487 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Hunter College
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$75,704 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$75,391 · 5 yrs out
Fitchburg State University
$75,329 · 5 yrs out
University of Hartford
$75,253 · 5 yrs out
Southern Utah University
$75,158 · 5 yrs out
Bethel University
$74,986 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$74,959 · 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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