U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 40 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 $34,549. College Scorecard.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst 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 Massachusetts-Amherst'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 | $10,164 | $41,672 | 3.4 years |
| $30–48k | $10,456 | $42,870 | 3.5 years |
| $48–75k | $12,932 | $53,021 | 4.4 years |
| $75–110k | $18,964 | $77,752 | 6.4 years |
| $110k+ | $30,793 | $126,251 | 10.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (76% 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 ($52,011) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $12,131 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 Massachusetts colleges
Every Massachusetts 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 | Northeastern University | $74,709 | $24,313 | $30,915 | 91% |
| 2 | Boston University | $65,617 | $24,813 | $24,402 | 89% |
| 3 | Emerson College | $63,337 | $24,580 | $49,180 | 77% |
| 4 | Suffolk University | $57,220 | $27,000 | $29,618 | 61% |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $52,011 | $25,447 | $22,383 | 83% |
5 more Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts-Amherst, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Acceptance rate: 60% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 83% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $71,631
- Full cost breakdown · all 73 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Communications$60,891
- English$48,475
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Journalism questions
How much do University of Massachusetts-Amherst Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of University of Massachusetts-Amherst earn a median $52,011 four years after graduating and $37,091 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do University of Massachusetts-Amherst Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of University of Massachusetts-Amherst is $25,447, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is University of Massachusetts-Amherst a good school for Journalism in Massachusetts?
On pay, Journalism graduates of University of Massachusetts-Amherst earn $52,011 four years out, $11,326 below the median for the same major across 5 Massachusetts colleges ($63,337) and $2,414 below the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Massachusetts-Amherst rank for Journalism in Massachusetts?
Of 5 Massachusetts colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, University of Massachusetts-Amherst ranks 5th. The highest is Northeastern University at $74,709.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of — in Massachusetts and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is University of Massachusetts-Amherst the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing University of Massachusetts-Amherst 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: “University of Massachusetts-Amherst Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-massachusetts-amherst/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).