Compare 41 Journalism. programs in the West. Average earnings: $44,603.
The highest-earning Journalism program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $20K earnings gap across 41 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
San Jose State University's Journalism program leads with graduates earning $65,175, well above the $44,603 average across all programs. University of Colorado Boulder follows at $62,737, while Chapman University rounds out the top three at $60,210—demonstrating that program strength varies independently of overall school reputation.
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 | $65,175 | 27 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $62,737 | 62 | $19,500 | Excellent | $46,340 | Challenging | |
| #3 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | $60,210 | 33 | $20,500 | Excellent | $44,954 | High |
| #4 | $59,071 | 78 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $58,676 | 40 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $56,877 | 54 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $54,626 | 74 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | High | |
| #8 | $51,112 | 194 | $19,500 | Good | $23,519 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $50,965 | 77 | $18,500 | Good | $23,123 | Challenging | |
| #10 | University Of WyomingPublic | $49,604 | 11 | $18,000 | Good | $16,000 | Challenging |
| #11 | $49,160 | 101 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $48,974 | 39 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable | |
| #13 | University Of DenverPrivate | $48,910 | 14 | $21,844 | Good | $27,813 | High |
| #14 | $48,898 | 36 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $48,589 | 106 | $18,922 | Good | $26,150 | High | |
| #16 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $47,608 | 84 | $19,620 | Good | $30,126 | High |
| #17 | $46,845 | 48 | $18,450 | Good | $13,000 | Challenging | |
| #18 | $45,792 | 129 | $20,000 | Good | $36,000 | High | |
| #19 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | $45,717 | 10 | $23,510 | Manageable | $41,309 | High |
| #20 | University Of OregonPublic | $45,488 | 128 | $20,139 | Manageable | $44,405 | High |
| #21 | $44,925 | 134 | $13,872 | Good | $13,522 | Challenging | |
| #22 | $43,388 | 25 | $21,500 | Manageable | $13,743 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $43,381 | 28 | $20,470 | Manageable | $22,566 | High | |
| #24 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $43,349 | 58 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Manageable |
| #25 | Utah State UniversityPublic | $42,911 | 79 | $14,340 | Good | $13,923 | 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 →
