U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 36 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 36% 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 $57,456. College Scorecard.
Samford 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 Samford 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 | $22,716 | $93,363 | 4.9 years |
| $30–48k | $24,812 | $101,977 | 5.3 years |
| $48–75k | $31,527 | $129,576 | 6.8 years |
| $75–110k | $34,206 | $140,587 | 7.3 years |
| $110k+ | $36,235 | $148,926 | 7.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (72% 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 ($50,652) minus $31,484 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in AL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,168 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 Alabama colleges
Every Alabama 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 | The University of Alabama | $55,043 | $25,000 | $22,420 | 73% |
| 2 | Samford University | $50,652 | $18,120 | $32,622 | 77% |
| 3 | Auburn University | $44,704 | $20,500 | $24,323 | 82% |
4 more Alabama 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 Samford University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Samford University
- Acceptance rate: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 77% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $58,469
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at Samford University
- Communications—
- English—
Samford University Journalism questions
How much do Samford University Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Samford University earn a median $50,652 four years after graduating and $30,311 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do Samford University Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Samford University is $18,120, about 36% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is Samford University a good school for Journalism in Alabama?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Samford University earn $50,652 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Alabama colleges ($50,652) and $3,773 below the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Samford University rank for Journalism in Alabama?
Of 3 Alabama colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Samford University ranks 2nd. The highest is The University of Alabama at $55,043.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $47,260 in the Birmingham, AL area and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is Samford 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: “Samford University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/samford-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).