U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 42 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 28% 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 $37,684. College Scorecard.
CU 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 CU'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 | $14,231 | $60,624 | 3.7 years |
| $30–48k | $14,381 | $61,263 | 3.7 years |
| $48–75k | $18,828 | $80,207 | 4.9 years |
| $75–110k | $26,915 | $114,658 | 7.0 years |
| $110k+ | $34,818 | $148,325 | 9.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (58% 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 ($57,079) minus $40,610 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in CO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,469 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 Colorado colleges
Every Colorado 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 Northern Colorado | $57,603 | $21,750 | $17,760 | 51% |
| 2 | University of Colorado Boulder | $57,079 | $15,750 | $25,346 | 74% |
| 3 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $53,528 | $22,500 | $21,279 | 67% |
| 4 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $47,460 | $24,500 | $15,327 | 32% |
1 more Colorado 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 CU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CU
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 74% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $69,738
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at CU
- Communications$66,623
- Public Relations and Advertising$74,779
- Broadcasting / Digital Media—
- English$54,085
CU Journalism questions
How much do CU Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn a median $57,079 four years after graduating and $34,022 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do CU Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of University of Colorado Boulder is $15,750, about 28% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is CU a good school for Journalism in Colorado?
On pay, Journalism graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn $57,079 four years out, $1,775 above the median for the same major across 4 Colorado colleges ($55,304) and $2,654 above the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does CU rank for Journalism in Colorado?
Of 4 Colorado colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, University of Colorado Boulder ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Northern Colorado at $57,603.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $60,770 in Colorado and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
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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: “University of Colorado Boulder Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).