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 54% 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 $27,350. College Scorecard.
WSU 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 WSU'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 | $11,090 | $50,127 | 2.4 years |
| $30–48k | $10,721 | $48,459 | 2.3 years |
| $48–75k | $12,068 | $54,547 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $14,828 | $67,023 | 3.2 years |
| $110k+ | $19,862 | $89,776 | 4.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (33% 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 ($54,188) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $20,777 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 | Michigan State University | $59,498 | $24,985 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 2 | Wayne State University | $54,188 | $29,000 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 3 | Central Michigan University | $47,775 | $27,000 | $17,597 | 59% |
| 4 | Oakland University | $46,680 | $26,000 | $9,120 | 58% |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan University | $45,245 | $30,735 | $15,407 | 46% |
9 more Michigan 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 WSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About WSU
- Acceptance rate: 81% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,493
- Full cost breakdown · all 84 majors · overview
Related majors at WSU
- Communications$57,335
- Public Relations and Advertising$59,025
- Broadcasting / Digital Media$42,551
- English$42,585
WSU Journalism questions
How much do WSU Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Wayne State University earn a median $54,188 four years after graduating and $26,591 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do WSU Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Wayne State University is $29,000, about 54% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is WSU a good school for Journalism in Michigan?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Wayne State University earn $54,188 four years out, $6,413 above the median for the same major across 5 Michigan colleges ($47,775) and $237 below the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does WSU rank for Journalism in Michigan?
Of 5 Michigan colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Wayne State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Michigan State University at $59,498.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $77,180 in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 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: “Wayne State University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/wayne-state-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).