Bachelor's-12% vs national median2,442 grads tracked
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at Western Illinois University
Ranked 202nd of 355 bachelor's programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$35,538
middle 50%: $26,578 – $47,035
Median · 5 years out
$52,041
middle 50%: $39,303 – $67,972
Median · 10 years out
$67,593
middle 50%: $48,147 – $93,708
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 and Journalism graduates at Western Illinois University earn $36k in year one. Salaries rise to $52k after five years and $68k after ten years.
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
8.1 yrs
≈ $9,577 total interest
Same major at other universities
Bridgewater College
$52,445 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$52,371 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$52,283 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$52,280 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York College at Potsdam
$52,212 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$52,207 · 5 yrs out
Tarleton State University
$52,037 · 5 yrs out
West Texas A&M University
$52,000 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Harrisburg
$51,929 · 5 yrs out
Olivet Nazarene University
$51,883 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$51,791 · 5 yrs out
University of South Dakota
$51,769 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Illinois University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$78,199 · 5 yrs out
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