Journalism

Bachelor's degree · University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

CIP 09.04

$36,303Median earnings 1 year after graduating
$67,539Median earnings 4 years after
$57,331Median earnings 5 years after
$21,000Median federal debt
49Graduates per year

How this program compares

Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Journalism at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn a median of $36,303 one year after completing the program. Nationally, bachelor's degree graduates in this field earn a median of $56,278 four years after graduating (middle half: $40,588–$73,923). Median debt is $21,000, about 58% of first-year earnings.

Journalism (Bachelor's degree) at other Illinois schools

CollegeEarnings (1 yr)Median debt
Northwestern University
Evanston
$50,426$14,834
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale
$40,575$21,269
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago
$38,302$21,125
DePaul University
Chicago
$37,388$21,666
Illinois State University
Normal
$36,643$20,750
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb
$31,753$22,625
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago
$31,369$24,525

Highest-paying Journalism programs nationwide →

Other programs at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Frequently asked questions

How much do Journalism graduates from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign make?

The median salary is $36,303 one year after graduation and $57,331 after five years.

How much student debt do graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $21,000.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.