U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 35 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 28% 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 $62,266. College Scorecard.
Elon University Journalism: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 North Carolina colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 Elon 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 | $26,523 | $107,949 | 3.0 years |
| $30–48k | $23,514 | $95,702 | 2.6 years |
| $48–75k | $24,064 | $97,940 | 2.7 years |
| $75–110k | $34,472 | $140,301 | 3.8 years |
| $110k+ | $49,743 | $202,454 | 5.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (78% 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 ($69,964) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $36,448 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 North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina 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 | Elon University | $69,964 | $19,875 | $41,555 | 84% |
| 2 | Appalachian State University | $48,243 | $21,000 | $16,836 | 75% |
9 more North Carolina 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 Elon University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Elon University
- Acceptance rate: 66% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 84% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $74,545
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at Elon University
- Communications$73,750
- Writing—
- Public Relations and Advertising—
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$60,832
- English$68,927
Elon University Journalism questions
How much do Elon University Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Elon University earn a median $69,964 four years after graduating and $34,105 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do Elon University Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Elon University is $19,875, about 28% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Where does Elon University rank for Journalism in North Carolina?
Of 2 North Carolina colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Elon University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $58,670 in North Carolina and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
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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: “Elon University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/elon-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).