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 56% 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 $25,182. College Scorecard.
OU 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 OU'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 | $4,422 | $19,987 | 1.5 years |
| $30–48k | $4,560 | $20,611 | 1.6 years |
| $48–75k | $6,711 | $30,334 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $11,874 | $53,670 | 4.0 years |
| $110k+ | $19,217 | $86,861 | 6.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (34% 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 ($46,680) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $13,269 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 OU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About OU
- Acceptance rate: 88% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $58,612
- Full cost breakdown · all 74 majors · overview
Related majors at OU
- Communications$55,662
- Writing—
- Public Relations and Advertising—
- English$48,101
OU Journalism questions
How much do OU Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Oakland University earn a median $46,680 four years after graduating and $35,545 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do OU Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Oakland University is $26,000, about 56% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is OU a good school for Journalism in Michigan?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Oakland University earn $46,680 four years out, $1,095 below the median for the same major across 5 Michigan colleges ($47,775) and $7,745 below the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does OU rank for Journalism in Michigan?
Of 5 Michigan colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Oakland University ranks 4th. The highest is Michigan State University at $59,498.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $77,180 in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is OU 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: “Oakland University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/oakland-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).