Compare 49 Journalism. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $42,728.
The highest-earning Journalism program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $16K earnings gap across 49 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Northwestern University's Journalism program leads with graduates earning $63,740, followed closely by University of Missouri-Columbia at $58,169. The Missouri program's 77% acceptance rate versus Northwestern's 7% proves that accessibility doesn't compromise outcomes—Mizzou graduates earn just $5,571 less while being far easier to access.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Northwestern graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 5.0% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. University of Missouri-Columbia achieves similar affordability with a 7.9% burden, proving that top journalism programs can be both accessible and financially manageable.
Highest program earnings: $63,740
Strong outcomes ($58,169) with 77% acceptance
5.0% payment burden | Excellent
15.3% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $63,740 | 151 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Manageable |
| #2 | $58,169 | 451 | $20,500 | Excellent | $32,529 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $56,265 | 233 | $20,484 | Good | $28,364 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $55,193 | 261 | $19,500 | Good | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $54,955 | 142 | $19,509 | Good | $32,850 | Challenging | |
| #6 | University Of KansasPublic | $54,736 | 243 | $21,000 | Good | $32,347 | Challenging |
| #7 | $53,317 | 53 | $19,976 | Good | $25,868 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $51,321 | 183 | $21,056 | Good | $23,508 | Challenging | |
| #9 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $51,254 | 30 | $23,940 | Good | $45,500 | High |
| #10 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $49,878 | 35 | $21,250 | Good | $16,378 | Challenging |
| #11 | $49,786 | 96 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High | |
| #12 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $49,526 | 29 | $24,157 | Manageable | $54,045 | High |
| #13 | University Of IowaPublic | $49,005 | 146 | $22,500 | Good | $27,975 | High |
| #14 | $48,706 | 61 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #15 | Drake UniversityPrivate | $48,432 | 31 | $23,000 | Manageable | $26,000 | High |
| #16 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $48,306 | 38 | $23,000 | Manageable | $34,512 | High |
| #17 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $48,283 | 42 | $23,168 | Manageable | $41,563 | High |
| #18 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $47,655 | 77 | $22,869 | Manageable | $25,950 | High |
| #19 | Kansas State UniversityPublic | $47,601 | 109 | $21,250 | Good | $27,283 | High |
| #20 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $47,164 | 71 | $23,250 | Manageable | $20,800 | High |
| #21 | $45,989 | 33 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | High | |
| #22 | Creighton UniversityPrivate | $45,827 | 27 | $25,000 | Manageable | $31,504 | High |
| #23 | $44,828 | 88 | $21,000 | Manageable | $25,798 | High | |
| #24 | $44,502 | 6 | $19,000 | Good | $15,945 | Challenging | |
| #25 | $44,231 | 63 | $24,500 | Manageable | $21,394 | High |
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 →
