Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 32 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other pays
Career outlook for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other graduates
The job market for the occupations Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writers and authors | 135,400 | +3.6% | $72,270 | Bachelor's degree |
| Editors | 115,800 | +0.6% | $75,260 | Bachelor's degree |
| Communications teachers, postsecondary | 35,800 | +2.1% | $77,800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other vs similar majors
How Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other stacks up against the closest fields in Communication & Journalism on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other Communication & Journalism · this major | Publishing | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | Journalism | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 43 D | 44 D | 51 C | 34 F |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Break-even |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $60,960 | $66,070 | $62,634 | $55,470 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $42,164 | $48,328 | $42,528 | $35,807 |
| ROI vs cost | +92% | +124% | +118% | +30% |
| Typical debt | $30,965 | $60,535 | $24,638 | $23,371 |
| Colleges offering it | 32 | 4 | 184 | 191 |
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY | Associate's | $69,211 | $12,882 | +816% | Strong return |
| 2 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WV | Associate's | $68,006 | $24,478 | +473% | Strong return |
| 3 | Boise State University Boise, ID | Certificate | $60,768 | $21,641 | +435% | Strong return |
| 4 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Certificate | $120,292 | $68,589 | +432% | Strong return |
| 5 | Immaculata University Immaculata, PA | Associate's | $67,375 | — | +361% | Strong return |
| 6 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MN | Associate's | $66,067 | — | +261% | Strong return |
| 7 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | Associate's | $67,530 | — | +258% | Strong return |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus University Park, PA | Associate's | $62,022 | $25,431 | +252% | Strong return |
| 9 | Gonzaga University Spokane, WA | Certificate | $90,272 | $36,711 | +194% | Strong return |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks Reading, PA | Associate's | $62,022 | $25,431 | +194% | Strong return |
| 11 | California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA | Associate's | $65,117 | $24,250 | +191% | Strong return |
| 12 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA | Certificate | $61,738 | — | +174% | Strong return |
| 13 | Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ | Associate's | $61,962 | — | +170% | Strong return |
| 14 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | Associate's | $64,028 | — | +147% | Strong return |
| 15 | New York University New York, NY | Certificate | $88,458 | $111,496 | +130% | Strong return |
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA | Associate's | $62,022 | $25,431 | +127% | Strong return |
| 17 | DeSales University Center Valley, PA | Associate's | $59,280 | — | +126% | Strong return |
| 18 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | Associate's | $54,611 | $22,375 | +124% | Strong return |
| 19 | University of Denver Denver, CO | Certificate | $73,941 | — | +100% | Strong return |
| 20 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI | Associate's | $52,201 | $24,250 | +74% | Strong return |
| 21 | Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA | Associate's | $50,718 | $24,750 | +70% | Strong return |
| 22 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | Certificate | $69,551 | — | +59% | Break-even |
| 23 | Berry College Mount Berry, GA | Associate's | $51,555 | $22,465 | +24% | Break-even |
| 24 | SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NY | Associate's | $48,271 | $24,000 | +4% | Break-even |
| 25 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN | Associate's | $48,176 | $16,750 | -8% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.