U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 42 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 42% 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 $34,309. College Scorecard.
Illinois State 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 Illinois State 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 | $11,568 | $49,280 | 2.5 years |
| $30–48k | $12,301 | $52,402 | 2.6 years |
| $48–75k | $16,348 | $69,642 | 3.5 years |
| $75–110k | $23,865 | $101,665 | 5.1 years |
| $110k+ | $28,224 | $120,234 | 6.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (51% 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 ($55,641) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,844 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 Illinois colleges
Every Illinois 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 | Northwestern University | $80,258 | $15,333 | $29,167 | 95% |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $67,539 | $22,300 | $14,355 | 85% |
| 3 | DePaul University | $61,708 | $24,334 | $30,902 | 68% |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago | $57,407 | $23,000 | $36,079 | 73% |
| 5 | Illinois State University | $55,641 | $23,500 | $19,398 | 65% |
| 6 | Eastern Illinois University | $54,038 | — | $12,786 | 47% |
| 7 | Columbia College Chicago | $51,639 | $26,000 | $26,598 | 52% |
| 8 | Northern Illinois University | $50,658 | $25,750 | $13,391 | 49% |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $49,880 | $25,500 | $13,297 | 62% |
11 more Illinois 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 Illinois State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Illinois State University
- Acceptance rate: 88% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 65% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,117
- Full cost breakdown · all 66 majors · overview
Related majors at Illinois State University
- Communications$60,414
- Public Relations and Advertising$67,752
- English$47,445
- Graphic Communications$55,723
Illinois State University Journalism questions
How much do Illinois State University Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Illinois State University earn a median $55,641 four years after graduating and $36,643 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do Illinois State University Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Illinois State University is $23,500, about 42% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is Illinois State University a good school for Journalism in Illinois?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Illinois State University earn $55,641 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 9 Illinois colleges ($55,641) and $1,216 above the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Illinois State University rank for Journalism in Illinois?
Of 9 Illinois colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Illinois State University ranks 5th. The highest is Northwestern University at $80,258.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $60,590 in Illinois and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is Illinois State 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: “Illinois State University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/illinois-state-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).