U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 160 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 45% 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 $28,872. College Scorecard.
OU 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 OU'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 | $10,509 | $45,294 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $10,602 | $45,695 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $14,536 | $62,650 | 2.9 years |
| $75–110k | $19,342 | $83,364 | 3.9 years |
| $110k+ | $20,986 | $90,450 | 4.2 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 ($54,031) minus $32,429 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in OK (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $21,602 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 Oklahoma colleges
Every Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma-Norman Campus | $54,031 | $24,250 | $15,300 | 75% |
| 2 | Oklahoma State University | $52,292 | $22,750 | $17,447 | 68% |
| 3 | University of Central Oklahoma | $51,042 | $26,000 | $18,309 | 37% |
| 4 | Northeastern State University | $46,506 | — | $12,710 | 35% |
6 more Oklahoma 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 OU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About OU
- Acceptance rate: 77% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,126
- Full cost breakdown · all 88 majors · overview
Related majors at OU
- Communications$57,453
- Public Relations and Advertising$76,148
- English$58,854
OU Journalism questions
How much do OU Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus earn a median $54,031 four years after graduating and $36,744 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do OU Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is $24,250, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is OU a good school for Journalism in Oklahoma?
On pay, Journalism graduates of University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus earn $54,031 four years out, $2,364 above the median for the same major across 4 Oklahoma colleges ($51,667) and $394 below the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does OU rank for Journalism in Oklahoma?
Of 4 Oklahoma colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $51,630 in the Oklahoma City, OK area and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is OU 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 Oklahoma-Norman Campus Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-oklahoma-norman-campus/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).