U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 528 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 31% 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 $31,713. College Scorecard.
University of Missouri-Columbia Journalism: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Missouri colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 Missouri-Columbia'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 | $13,841 | $59,516 | 1.8 years |
| $30–48k | $13,378 | $57,525 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $13,722 | $59,005 | 1.8 years |
| $75–110k | $19,762 | $84,977 | 2.5 years |
| $110k+ | $26,304 | $113,107 | 3.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (56% 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 ($69,016) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $33,578 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.
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 Missouri-Columbia, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Missouri-Columbia
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,403
- Full cost breakdown · all 87 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Missouri-Columbia
- Communications$61,007
- English$47,487
University of Missouri-Columbia Journalism questions
How much do University of Missouri-Columbia Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia earn a median $69,016 four years after graduating and $43,958 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do University of Missouri-Columbia Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia is $21,400, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Where does University of Missouri-Columbia rank for Journalism in Missouri?
Of 1 Missouri colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Columbia ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $46,920 in Missouri and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia 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 Missouri-Columbia Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).