Master's+9% vs national median380 grads tracked
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Ranked 18th of 124 master's programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$62,336
middle 50%: $47,826 – $84,232
Median · 5 years out
$78,335
middle 50%: $58,363 – $103,730
Median · 10 years out
$90,481
middle 50%: $65,420 – $120,942
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
Communication and Journalism master's graduates earn a median of $62k initially. Salaries reach $90k by year ten.
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
5.1 yrs
≈ $5,517 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$81,881 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$80,377 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Graduate School & University Center
$78,929 · 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
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$75,467 · 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
Engineering (Doctorate)
$120,780 · 5 yrs out
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