Compare 197 Journalism. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $42,941. Top programs: $71,492+.
The highest-earning Journalism program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $16K earnings gap across 197 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Washington And Lee University's Journalism program leads with graduates earning $71,492, well above the $42,941 average. But George Washington University ($66,907) and San Jose State University ($65,175) demonstrate that strong outcomes aren't limited to elite admissions—San Jose State accepts 80% of applicants while delivering competitive earnings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. San Jose State graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 4.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, proving top programs can also be affordable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $71,492 | 7 | $19,500 | Excellent | $38,000 | Manageable | |
| #2 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $66,907 | 51 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Manageable |
| #3 | $65,175 | 27 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $63,740 | 151 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Manageable |
| #5 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $62,752 | 131 | $26,000 | Good | $39,841 | Challenging |
| #6 | $62,737 | 62 | $19,500 | Excellent | $46,340 | Challenging | |
| #7 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | $60,210 | 33 | $20,500 | Excellent | $44,954 | High |
| #8 | $59,071 | 78 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $58,676 | 40 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Manageable | |
| #10 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $58,645 | 110 | $23,250 | Good | $39,000 | High |
| #11 | $58,169 | 451 | $20,500 | Excellent | $32,529 | Challenging | |
| #12 | $57,180 | 133 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $56,877 | 54 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #14 | $56,761 | 32 | $21,500 | Good | $35,324 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $56,265 | 233 | $20,484 | Good | $28,364 | Challenging | |
| #16 | Quinnipiac UniversityPrivate | $55,623 | 45 | $26,000 | Good | $64,334 | High |
| #17 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $55,306 | 20 | $24,250 | Good | $34,984 | High |
| #18 | $55,193 | 261 | $19,500 | Good | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $54,955 | 142 | $19,509 | Good | $32,850 | Challenging | |
| #20 | Hofstra UniversityPrivate | $54,788 | 62 | $23,621 | Good | $56,149 | High |
| #21 | University Of KansasPublic | $54,736 | 243 | $21,000 | Good | $32,347 | Challenging |
| #22 | $54,626 | 74 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | High | |
| #23 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $53,614 | 17 | $21,500 | Good | $54,925 | High |
| #24 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $53,451 | 29 | $17,500 | Excellent | $37,267 | High |
| #25 | $53,317 | 53 | $19,976 | Good | $25,868 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
