U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 47 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 31% 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 $83,856. College Scorecard.
GWU Journalism: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 District of Columbia 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 GWU'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 | $17,440 | $70,981 | 1.6 years |
| $30–48k | $17,292 | $70,378 | 1.6 years |
| $48–75k | $22,080 | $89,866 | 2.1 years |
| $75–110k | $28,100 | $114,367 | 2.6 years |
| $110k+ | $55,337 | $225,222 | 5.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (79% 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 ($81,927) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in DC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $43,743 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 District of Columbia colleges
Every District of Columbia 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 | George Washington University | $81,927 | $25,000 | $36,586 | 84% |
| 2 | American University | $66,635 | $25,000 | $41,943 | 75% |
2 more District of Columbia 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 GWU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About GWU
- Acceptance rate: 47% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 84% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $90,873
- Full cost breakdown · all 81 majors · overview
Related majors at GWU
- Communications$79,112
- Writing—
- Public Relations and Advertising$85,459
- English$70,766
GWU Journalism questions
How much do GWU Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of George Washington University earn a median $81,927 four years after graduating and $52,015 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do GWU Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of George Washington University is $25,000, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Where does GWU rank for Journalism in District of Columbia?
Of 2 District of Columbia colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, George Washington University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $101,020 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area 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: “George Washington University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/george-washington-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).