Journalism: Brigham Young University vs San Francisco State University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
In-State
20.2x
$25,984 tuition
21.7x
$29,696 tuition
Out-of-State
20.2x
$25,984 tuition
8.3x
$77,216 tuition
$523,750 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$644,004 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

Brigham Young University San Francisco State University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.2x 21.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 20.2x 8.3x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $29,696
Year 1 Earnings $46,652 $31,788
10-Year Earnings $524K $644K
Median Debt $14,959 $15,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 3.8 months 5.7 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 54/100 44/100
Acceptance Rate 69.2% 96.2%

Both programs have very high AI automation risk (64% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Journalism graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Journalism graduates.

Brigham Young University San Francisco State University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $29,696
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $25,984 $77,216
10-Year Projected Earnings $524K $644K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.2x 21.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 20.2x 8.3x
5-Year Salary Growth +17% +107%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Journalism (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Brigham Young University San Francisco State University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $529K $524K $483K $669K $644K $564K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 20.4x 20.2x 18.6x 22.5x 21.7x 19.0x
DegreeWorth Score 55 54 46 45 44 39

For the full AI analysis of Journalism career paths, see the Brigham Young University or San Francisco State University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Journalism graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$3,712
Brigham Young University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$14,864/yr
Brigham Young University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
20.2x / 21.7x
Out-of-state: 20.2x / 8.3x

Career Paths

Journalism graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800 2,700 +2.1% 43%
Editors $75,260 9,800 +0.6% 65%
Writers and authors $72,270 13,400 +3.6% 89%
Film and video editors $70,980 3,600 +4.0% 53%
News analysts, reporters, and journalists $60,280 4,100 -3.9% 65%
Proofreaders and copy markers $49,210 1,900 -0.6% 98%
Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys $45,680 2,300 -5.5% 65%
Photographers $42,520 12,700 +1.8% 39%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Journalism: Brigham Young University or San Francisco State University?
Brigham Young University scores 54/100 while San Francisco State University scores 44/100. Brigham Young University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its competitive ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Journalism?
Brigham Young University has an in-state earnings multiple of 20.2x vs San Francisco State University's 21.7x. That means San Francisco State University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Brigham Young University and San Francisco State University compare on Journalism earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $46,652 at Brigham Young University vs $31,788 at San Francisco State University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $523,750 vs $644,004 — a difference of $120,254.
How much does Journalism cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $25,984 at Brigham Young University and $29,696 at San Francisco State University. Median debt at graduation is $14,959 vs $15,000. Both programs lead to the same Journalism career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.