U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 30 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 75% 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 $23,107. College Scorecard.
Rust College 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 Rust College'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 | $12,546 | $51,815 | 4.8 years |
| $30–48k | $9,481 | $39,157 | 3.6 years |
| $48–75k | $13,878 | $57,316 | 5.3 years |
| $75–110k | $8,797 | $36,332 | 3.3 years |
| $110k+ | $18,356 | $75,810 | 7.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (24% 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 ($41,398) minus $30,550 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MS (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $10,848 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 Mississippi colleges
Every Mississippi 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 | University of Mississippi | $56,381 | $24,225 | $13,314 | 72% |
| 2 | Rust College | $41,398 | $31,000 | $12,587 | 12% |
| 3 | University of Southern Mississippi | $41,293 | $26,000 | $21,708 | 49% |
1 more Mississippi college offers Journalism but has 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 Rust College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Rust College
- Acceptance rate: 49% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 12% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $32,275
- Full cost breakdown · all 17 majors · overview
Rust College Journalism questions
How much do Rust College Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Rust College earn a median $41,398 four years after graduating and $24,977 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do Rust College Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Rust College is $31,000, about 75% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is Rust College a good school for Journalism in Mississippi?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Rust College earn $41,398 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Mississippi colleges ($41,398) and $13,027 below the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Rust College rank for Journalism in Mississippi?
Of 3 Mississippi colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Rust College ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Mississippi at $56,381.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $62,560 in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR area and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is Rust College the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Rust College with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Rust College Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/rust-college/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).