Compare 5 Journalism. programs in Virginia. Average earnings: $48,409.
With top graduates earning $71,492, Journalism stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $25K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Washington And Lee University's Journalism program leads with graduates earning $71,492, significantly above the $48,409 state average. Hampton University follows at $46,581 with a larger cohort of 40 students, while University of Richmond produces graduates earning $43,426—demonstrating that outcomes vary dramatically across Virginia's 5 programs.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Washington And Lee graduates borrow $19,500 and face just a 5.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, achieving a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.27.
| 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 | Hampton UniversityPrivate | $46,581 | 40 | $25,442 | Manageable | $74,299 | High |
| #3 | University Of RichmondPrivate | $43,426 | 20 | $21,000 | Manageable | $30,512 | High |
| #4 | Radford UniversityPublic | $40,954 | 57 | $24,000 | Manageable | $22,158 | High |
| #5 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $39,592 | 27 | $24,500 | Challenging | $16,398 | 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 →
