U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 60 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 26% 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 $21,259. College Scorecard.
UNM Journalism: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 New Mexico 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 UNM'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 | $11,938 | $52,408 | 2.4 years |
| $30–48k | $13,045 | $57,268 | 2.6 years |
| $48–75k | $16,196 | $71,100 | 3.2 years |
| $75–110k | $17,906 | $78,607 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $19,053 | $83,643 | 3.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (36% 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 ($52,760) minus $30,723 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NM (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $22,037 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 New Mexico colleges
Every New Mexico 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 New Mexico | $52,760 | $13,606 | $15,489 | 55% |
| 2 | New Mexico State University | $45,765 | $18,250 | $8,889 | 55% |
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 UNM, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About UNM
- Acceptance rate: 95% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 55% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $44,792
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at UNM
UNM Journalism questions
How much do UNM Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of University of New Mexico earn a median $52,760 four years after graduating and $32,423 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do UNM Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of University of New Mexico is $13,606, about 26% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Where does UNM rank for Journalism in New Mexico?
Of 2 New Mexico colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, University of New Mexico ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $56,190 in the Albuquerque, NM area 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 New Mexico Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).