Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other programs
CIP 0999 · Communication & Journalism · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
29 institutions report graduate earnings for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $62,198 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42× and 86% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 3 of the 30 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern UniversityIL · Master's | $126,571 n=130 | 93% 5yr | $68,589 | 0.54× | Above +85% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | New York UniversityNY · Master's | $94,135 n=58 | 93% 5yr | $111,496 | 1.18× | Above +33% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | Bowie State UniversityMD · Master's | $83,948 n=24 | — | $41,000 | 0.49× | Above +11% | — |
| 4 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's | $74,597 n=41 | 71% 1yr | $20,153 | 0.27× | Above +87% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Gonzaga UniversityWA · Master's | $73,912 n=63 | 92% 5yr | $36,711 | 0.50× | Below -1% | Below 1/2 |
| 6 | Seton Hall UniversityNJ · Bachelor's | $70,611 n=46 | 87% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.37× | Above +77% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | California Lutheran UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $68,806 n=45 | 97% 5yr | $24,250 | 0.35× | Above +79% | Clears 2/2 |
| 8 | High Point UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $67,085 n=84 | — | $23,250 | 0.35× | Above +96% | — |
| 9 | University of St ThomasMN · Bachelor's | $66,876 n=17 | 91% 5yr | $24,729 | 0.37× | Above +67% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's | $66,866 n=101 | 92% 5yr | $25,431 | 0.38× | Above +77% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksPA · Bachelor's | $66,866 n=101 | 92% 5yr | $25,431 | 0.38× | Above +77% | — |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA · Bachelor's | $66,866 n=101 | 92% 5yr | $25,431 | 0.38× | Above +77% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | Fordham UniversityNY · Master's | $66,412 n=27 | — | — | — | Below -6% | — |
| 14 | West Virginia UniversityWV · Master's | $66,125 n=53 | 93% 1yr | $39,292 | 0.59× | Above +27% | — |
| 15 | Farmingdale State CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $62,608 n=116 | 84% 5yr | $12,882 | 0.21× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Georgia Southern UniversityGA · Master's | $61,788 n=22 | 81% 5yr | $41,000 | 0.66× | Below -2% | Below 2/2 |
| 17 | West Virginia UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $61,411 n=88 | 74% | $24,478 | 0.40× | Above +75% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Boise State UniversityID · UG cert | $59,989 n=61 | 75% 5yr | $21,641 | 0.36× | Above +69% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Howard UniversityDC · Bachelor's | $59,909 n=110 | 45% 1yr | $26,000 | 0.43× | Above +66% | — |
| 20 | Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeWI · Bachelor's | $58,335 n=21 | — | $26,000 | 0.45× | Above +50% | — |
| 21 | University of Nebraska at OmahaNE · Bachelor's | $58,250 n=67 | 75% 1yr | $19,550 | 0.34× | Above +57% | — |
| 22 | Dominican University of CaliforniaCA · Bachelor's | $58,005 n=24 | — | $26,500 | 0.46× | Above +51% | — |
| 23 | Grand Valley State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $57,771 n=49 | 91% 5yr | $24,250 | 0.42× | Above +65% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $54,860 n=29 | 100% 5yr | $22,375 | 0.41× | Above +49% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Berry CollegeGA · Bachelor's | $50,593 n=38 | 82% 5yr | $22,465 | 0.44× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | SUNY Buffalo State UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $49,500 n=52 | 74% 5yr | $24,000 | 0.48× | Above +30% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Malone UniversityOH · Bachelor's | $49,148 n=21 | 76% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.55× | Above +34% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Augustana CollegeIL · Bachelor's | $49,015 n=16 | — | $27,000 | 0.55× | Above +30% | — |
| 29 | Tennessee Technological UniversityTN · Bachelor's | $45,909 n=46 | 86% 5yr | $16,750 | 0.36× | Above +31% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | SUNY Polytechnic InstituteNY · Bachelor's | $40,991 n=27 | 70% 5yr | $19,440 | 0.47× | Above +8% | Below 1/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $66,866 | 3 |
| New York | $62,608 | 5 |
States with at least 3 reporting Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other programs in this dataset are Northwestern University ($126,571), New York University ($94,135), Bowie State University ($83,948). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 3 of the 30 Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.