Bachelor's-9% vs national median2,097 grads tracked
Journalism at Ball State University
Ranked 62nd of 127 bachelor's programs in Journalism by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,294
middle 50%: $28,660 – $46,555
Median · 5 years out
$53,545
middle 50%: $41,098 – $68,162
Median · 10 years out
$67,488
middle 50%: $48,571 – $94,837
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Journalism (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Graduates of Ball State University's bachelor's program in Journalism earn a median $37,294 one year after graduating, rising to $67,488 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% below the national median of $58,956 for this field, ranking 62nd of 127 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
7.8 yrs
≈ $9,198 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Texas at Tyler
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$54,000 · 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
University of Northern Colorado
$53,300 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$53,167 · 5 yrs out
Averett University
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine
$53,032 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$52,963 · 5 yrs out
Midwestern State University
$52,839 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Ball State University
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$104,232 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$98,755 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$97,243 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$96,168 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$89,880 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$89,443 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$88,775 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$85,374 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$85,374 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$85,242 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$83,054 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
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