U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 52 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 38% 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 $27,648. College Scorecard.
Washington State University 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 Washington State University'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 | $7,074 | $30,913 | 1.7 years |
| $30–48k | $8,971 | $39,203 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $11,519 | $50,338 | 2.7 years |
| $75–110k | $18,426 | $80,522 | 4.3 years |
| $110k+ | $24,726 | $108,053 | 5.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (43% 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 ($58,795) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $18,576 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 Washington colleges
Every Washington 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 | Gonzaga University | $62,743 | $27,000 | $35,119 | 86% |
| 2 | Washington State University | $58,795 | $22,506 | $14,971 | 61% |
| 3 | Western Washington University | $57,697 | $18,075 | $21,193 | 65% |
6 more Washington 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 Washington State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Washington State University
- Acceptance rate: 87% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 61% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $68,905
- Full cost breakdown · all 89 majors · overview
Related majors at Washington State University
- Communications$62,406
- Public Relations and Advertising$67,647
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$57,956
- English$50,745
Washington State University Journalism questions
How much do Washington State University Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Washington State University earn a median $58,795 four years after graduating and $36,273 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do Washington State University Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Washington State University is $22,506, about 38% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is Washington State University a good school for Journalism in Washington?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Washington State University earn $58,795 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Washington colleges ($58,795) and $4,370 above the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Washington State University rank for Journalism in Washington?
Of 3 Washington colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Washington State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Gonzaga University at $62,743.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $54,760 in Washington and $62,200 nationally. Others include editors and film and video editors.
Is Washington State University 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: “Washington State University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/washington-state-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).