U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 158 graduates with earnings reported
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 $32,198. College Scorecard.
MSU 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 MSU'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 | $7,068 | $29,968 | 1.1 years |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | 1.8 years |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 2.7 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 3.7 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 4.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (65% 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 ($59,498) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $26,087 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 MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 81% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $67,253
- Full cost breakdown · all 105 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Communications$60,807
- Writing$56,662
- Public Relations and Advertising$69,300
- Broadcasting / Digital Media—
- English$49,154
MSU Journalism questions
How much do MSU Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $59,498 four years after graduating and $36,912 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do MSU Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Michigan State University is $24,985, about 42% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is MSU a good school for Journalism in Michigan?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Michigan State University earn $59,498 four years out, $11,723 above the median for the same major across 5 Michigan colleges ($47,775) and $5,073 above the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does MSU rank for Journalism in Michigan?
Of 5 Michigan colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $50,400 in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI 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: “Michigan State University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).