Doctoral (Research)+4% vs national median206 grads tracked
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Ranked 10th of 28 doctoral (research) programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$82,397
middle 50%: $71,315 – $96,544
Median · 5 years out
$89,221
middle 50%: $75,281 – $104,197
Median · 10 years out
$106,985
middle 50%: $89,113 – $125,175
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Research doctorate graduates in Communication start with a median of $82k. Salaries reach $89k after five years and $107k 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
4.1 yrs
≈ $4,232 total interest
Same major at other universities
Arizona State University
$95,830 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$91,143 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$90,704 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$89,687 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$89,305 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$87,304 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$87,276 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$86,507 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$85,412 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$214,723 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$192,150 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$178,780 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$167,515 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,181 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,648 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$147,757 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$140,602 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$127,840 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$125,175 · 5 yrs out
Journalism (Bachelor's)
$124,373 · 5 yrs out
Library Science (Doctorate)
$121,393 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Communication and Media Studies
Compare universities
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
Compare universities
Journalism
Compare universities
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Compare universities
Publishing
Compare universities
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Compare universities