U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 49 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 57% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,250.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $30,681. College Scorecard.
Central Michigan University Journalism: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Journalism nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Central Michigan University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,185 | $53,980 | 3.8 years |
| $30–48k | $12,139 | $53,776 | 3.7 years |
| $48–75k | $13,601 | $60,252 | 4.2 years |
| $75–110k | $16,269 | $72,072 | 5.0 years |
| $110k+ | $21,403 | $94,815 | 6.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (39% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Journalism graduates 4 years after graduating ($47,775) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $14,364 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Journalism at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Journalism graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State University | $59,498 | $24,985 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 2 | Wayne State University | $54,188 | $29,000 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 3 | Central Michigan University | $47,775 | $27,000 | $17,597 | 59% |
| 4 | Oakland University | $46,680 | $26,000 | $9,120 | 58% |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan University | $45,245 | $30,735 | $15,407 | 46% |
9 more Michigan colleges offer Journalism but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Journalism graduates
Reporter / journalist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -5.9% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Editors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -1.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Film and Video Editors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Central Michigan University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Central Michigan University
- Acceptance rate: 90% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 59% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,874
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at Central Michigan University
- Communications$55,353
- Writing—
- Public Relations and Advertising$59,522
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$46,942
- English$39,262
Central Michigan University Journalism questions
How much do Central Michigan University Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median $47,775 four years after graduating and $25,033 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do Central Michigan University Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Central Michigan University is $27,000, about 57% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is Central Michigan University a good school for Journalism in Michigan?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Central Michigan University earn $47,775 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 5 Michigan colleges ($47,775) and $6,650 below the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Central Michigan University rank for Journalism in Michigan?
Of 5 Michigan colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Central Michigan University ranks 3rd. The highest is Michigan State University at $59,498.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $62,760 in Michigan and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is Central Michigan University the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Central Michigan University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/central-michigan-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).