Journalismat American University
Graduates earn $44,387/yr in their first year — about 29.0% above the national Journalism average. Base-case 10-year earnings $533K; scenarios range from $489K to $539K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at American University
Graduates of American University's Journalism program earn $44,387/yr in their first year — 29% above the $34,417 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.
At 2.4x tuition cost, the financial math is tight. Decade earnings don't dramatically exceed what you paid, making school choice and aid packages critical.
The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Journalism career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $24,976 against $44,387/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.
A #112 ranking among 178 Journalism programs places American University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 25% earnings increase from $44,387 to $55,636 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to American University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Journalism
How American University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at American University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at American University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Journalism at American University
What does a 31/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Journalism at American University?
At 31/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Journalism programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Journalism at American University?
The 64% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.