Home › Ball State University › Journalism

Journalism at Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
36
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,398/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 12.8x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #62 of 178 Journalism programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Journalism graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $563K $553K $503K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.1x 12.8x 11.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.8x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 36 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,032
Out-of-state: $115,064 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$63,592
-48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,418
9.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,057
72% growth from Year 1

About Ball State University

Ball State University has a 72% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 13,770 students in Muncie, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Ball State University →

Top Career Paths

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
Editors $75,260/yr
Writers and authors $72,270/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 178 schools offering Journalism →

Journalism at Other Schools

George Washington University ($52,015) Northeastern University ($51,855) Northwestern University ($50,426) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($48,637) University of Maryland-College Park ($46,893) Brigham Young University ($46,652) Lehigh University ($45,256) University of Southern California ($44,651)

Other Majors at Ball State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($73,719) Construction Management ($69,076) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($67,833) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($67,350) General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations ($65,184) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($60,526) Landscape Architecture ($59,972) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($59,249)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at Ball State University?
A score of 36/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Journalism. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Journalism careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $502,520 in decade earnings vs $562,541 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →