U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 43 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 52% 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 $34,321. College Scorecard.
URI Journalism: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Rhode Island 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 URI'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 | $14,368 | $60,633 | 5.0 years |
| $30–48k | $12,923 | $54,535 | 4.5 years |
| $48–75k | $17,803 | $75,129 | 6.1 years |
| $75–110k | $23,394 | $98,723 | 8.1 years |
| $110k+ | $28,460 | $120,101 | 9.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (57% 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 ($52,115) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in RI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $12,235 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 URI, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About URI
- Acceptance rate: 72% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 73% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $69,743
- Full cost breakdown · all 78 majors · overview
Related majors at URI
- Communications$64,520
- Writing$52,625
- Public Relations and Advertising$72,328
- English$54,524
URI Journalism questions
How much do URI Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of University of Rhode Island earn a median $52,115 four years after graduating and $37,875 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do URI Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of University of Rhode Island is $26,899, about 52% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Where does URI rank for Journalism in Rhode Island?
Of 1 Rhode Island colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, University of Rhode Island ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $63,430 in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 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 Rhode Island Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-rhode-island/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).