WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-12% vs national median889 grads tracked

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at University of South Dakota

Ranked 208th of 355 bachelor's programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,045
middle 50%: $27,826 – $45,663
Median · 5 years out
$51,769
middle 50%: $40,531 – $65,919
Median · 10 years out
$63,775
middle 50%: $47,431 – $87,162

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

Graduates of University of South Dakota's bachelor's program in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs earn a median $37,045 one year after graduating, rising to $63,775 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 12% below the national median of $59,040 for this field, ranking 208th of 355 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
8.1 yrs
≈ $9,451 total interest

Same major at other universities

Western Illinois University
$52,041 · 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
Judson University
$51,694 · 5 yrs out
Southeast Missouri State University
$51,629 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M International University
$51,562 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$51,510 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$51,506 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
$51,443 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of South Dakota

Medicine (Doctorate)
$232,751 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$136,818 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's)
$116,358 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$95,450 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$89,791 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$89,516 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$87,051 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$83,134 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$83,134 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$77,249 · 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