U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 211 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 40% 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 $39,694. College Scorecard.
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 | $19,845 | $83,349 | 3.1 years |
| $30–48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 3.2 years |
| $48–75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 4.1 years |
| $75–110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 5.0 years |
| $110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 6.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (70% 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 ($62,336) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $26,539 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 Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania 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 | Lehigh University | $81,935 | $19,500 | $36,931 | 88% |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University | $62,336 | $25,000 | $32,875 | 86% |
| 3 | Duquesne University | $54,081 | — | $37,730 | 77% |
| 4 | Widener University | $53,724 | — | $25,759 | 68% |
| 5 | Temple University | $53,518 | $26,000 | $28,198 | 75% |
| 6 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | $49,625 | $26,000 | $16,804 | 56% |
| 7 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | $47,760 | $26,000 | $23,726 | 56% |
| 8 | University of Scranton | $47,302 | $27,000 | $32,568 | 80% |
| 9 | Point Park University | $45,859 | $27,000 | $25,942 | 59% |
| 10 | Pennsylvania Western University | $45,264 | — | $18,256 | 52% |
13 more Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance rate: 61% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 86% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,435
- Full cost breakdown · all 141 majors · overview
Related majors at Pennsylvania State University
- Communications$55,505
- Writing—
- Public Relations and Advertising$76,246
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$66,876
- English$50,299
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$66,866
Pennsylvania State University Journalism questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $62,336 four years after graduating and $36,468 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $25,000, about 40% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is Pennsylvania State University a good school for Journalism in Pennsylvania?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn $62,336 four years out, $8,818 above the median for the same major across 11 Pennsylvania colleges ($53,518) and $7,911 above the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Journalism in Pennsylvania?
Of 10 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Lehigh University at $81,935.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of — in Pennsylvania and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is Pennsylvania 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: “Pennsylvania State University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).