U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 49 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 49% 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 $34,391. College Scorecard.
University of Kentucky 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 University of Kentucky'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 | $12,182 | $51,895 | 2.7 years |
| $30–48k | $12,119 | $51,627 | 2.7 years |
| $48–75k | $16,313 | $69,493 | 3.6 years |
| $75–110k | $21,192 | $90,278 | 4.7 years |
| $110k+ | $26,781 | $114,087 | 5.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (54% 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 ($52,785) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,269 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 Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky 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 Kentucky | $52,785 | $26,000 | $18,851 | 71% |
| 2 | Western Kentucky University | $47,661 | $25,500 | $10,990 | 56% |
| 3 | Northern Kentucky University | $44,834 | $26,122 | $8,191 | 52% |
| 4 | Kentucky State University | $42,363 | — | $8,040 | 32% |
5 more Kentucky 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 University of Kentucky, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Kentucky
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 71% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $59,025
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Kentucky
- Communications$55,653
- Writing$38,822
- Public Relations and Advertising$62,754
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$44,333
- English$44,384
University of Kentucky Journalism questions
How much do University of Kentucky Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of University of Kentucky earn a median $52,785 four years after graduating and $36,926 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do University of Kentucky Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of University of Kentucky is $26,000, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is University of Kentucky a good school for Journalism in Kentucky?
On pay, Journalism graduates of University of Kentucky earn $52,785 four years out, $6,537 above the median for the same major across 4 Kentucky colleges ($46,248) and $1,640 below the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Kentucky rank for Journalism in Kentucky?
Of 4 Kentucky colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, University of Kentucky ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $47,530 in Kentucky and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is University of Kentucky 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: “University of Kentucky Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-kentucky/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).