U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 31 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 $29,933. College Scorecard.
NAU 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 NAU'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 | $9,709 | $41,069 | 1.9 years |
| $30–48k | $10,398 | $43,984 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $13,330 | $56,386 | 2.7 years |
| $75–110k | $18,050 | $76,352 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $20,686 | $87,502 | 4.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (45% 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 ($57,868) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in AZ (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $21,207 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 Arizona colleges
Every Arizona 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 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | $64,224 | $19,937 | $14,967 | 68% |
| 2 | Northern Arizona University | $57,868 | $18,062 | $14,158 | 61% |
| 3 | University of Arizona | $55,676 | $20,520 | $16,674 | 68% |
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 NAU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NAU
- Acceptance rate: 90% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 61% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $54,384
- Full cost breakdown · all 82 majors · overview
Related majors at NAU
- Communications$52,957
- Writing—
- Public Relations and Advertising$55,863
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$50,233
- English$45,915
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other—
NAU Journalism questions
How much do NAU Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median $57,868 four years after graduating and $33,710 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do NAU Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Northern Arizona University is $18,062, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is NAU a good school for Journalism in Arizona?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Northern Arizona University earn $57,868 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Arizona colleges ($57,868) and $3,443 above the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NAU rank for Journalism in Arizona?
Of 3 Arizona colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Northern Arizona University ranks 2nd. The highest is Arizona State University Campus Immersion at $64,224.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $43,100 in Arizona and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is NAU 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: “Northern Arizona University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northern-arizona-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).