U.S. median for this major: $54,425.
College Scorecard field of study; 68 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 31% 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 $30,359. College Scorecard.
Western Washington 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 Western Washington 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 | $12,915 | $57,213 | 3.3 years |
| $30–48k | $14,147 | $62,671 | 3.6 years |
| $48–75k | $17,539 | $77,698 | 4.4 years |
| $75–110k | $24,301 | $107,653 | 6.2 years |
| $110k+ | $27,984 | $123,969 | 7.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (42% 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 ($57,697) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $17,478 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 Western Washington University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Washington University
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 65% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,569
- Full cost breakdown · all 97 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Washington University
- Communications$56,415
- Writing$38,460
- English$46,571
Western Washington University Journalism questions
How much do Western Washington University Journalism graduates earn?
Journalism graduates of Western Washington University earn a median $57,697 four years after graduating and $34,119 one year after. The U.S. median for Journalism graduates across 185 colleges is $54,425.
How much debt do Western Washington University Journalism graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Journalism graduates of Western Washington University is $18,075, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,250.
Is Western Washington University a good school for Journalism in Washington?
On pay, Journalism graduates of Western Washington University earn $57,697 four years out, $1,098 below the median for the same major across 3 Washington colleges ($58,795) and $3,272 above the U.S. median ($54,425). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Washington University rank for Journalism in Washington?
Of 3 Washington colleges reporting Journalism graduate earnings, Western Washington University ranks 3rd. 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 Western Washington 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: “Western Washington University Journalism: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-washington-university/majors/journalism (College Scorecard and BLS data).