U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 311 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 41% 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 $26,415. College Scorecard.
West Virginia University Journalism: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 | $9,450 | $40,919 | 1.6 years |
| $30–48k | $12,501 | $54,129 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $14,179 | $61,395 | 2.4 years |
| $75–110k | $18,710 | $81,014 | 3.1 years |
| $110k+ | $20,273 | $87,782 | 3.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 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 ($58,454) minus $32,695 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WV (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $25,759 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 West Virginia colleges
Every West Virginia 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 | West Virginia University | $58,454 | $24,250 | $15,634 | 65% |
| 2 | Marshall University | $44,277 | $26,662 | $7,502 | 51% |
1 more West Virginia college offers Journalism but has 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 West Virginia University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About West Virginia University
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 65% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,939
- Full cost breakdown · all 89 majors · overview
Related majors at West Virginia University
- Communications—
- Public Relations and Advertising—
- English$41,920
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$61,411
West Virginia University Journalism questions
How much do West Virginia University Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of West Virginia University earn a median $58,454 four years after graduating and $34,075 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do West Virginia University Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of West Virginia University is $24,250, about 41% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Where does West Virginia University rank for Journalism in West Virginia?
Of 2 West Virginia colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, West Virginia University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Journalism graduates get?
A common career is reporter / journalist, with a median wage of $35,280 in West Virginia 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: “West Virginia University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/west-virginia-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).