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Communications · Journalism Rank #113 of 178

Journalismat Drake University

Graduates earn $41,913/yr in their first year — about 22.0% above the national Journalism average. Base-case 10-year earnings $548K; scenarios range from $499K to $557K depending on AI disruption.

Des Moines, IA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
31 AT RISK
32
Optimistic
25
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,913
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.9x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$548K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Drake University

Drake University's Journalism graduates start at $41,913/yr — above the $34,417 national average, though not by a wide margin.

At 2.7x tuition cost, the financial math is tight. Decade earnings don't dramatically exceed what you paid, making school choice and aid packages critical.

The 10% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Journalism career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

A #113 ranking among 178 Journalism programs places Drake University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 37% earnings increase from $41,913 to $57,439 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$499K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score25/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$548K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score31/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$557K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple2.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Drake University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Journalism graduates typically work

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.

1
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
2
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
3
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
4
Film and video editors
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$70,980/yr
High
5
News analysts, reporters, and journalists
-3.9% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$60,280/yr
High
6
Proofreaders and copy markers
-0.6% 10-yr growth · 1,900 openings/yr
$49,210/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Journalism

How Drake University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
George Washington University
DC · Private nonprofit
44
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
35
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Northwestern University
IL · Private nonprofit
39
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.7x
ROI
Top score
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
56
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
14.3x
ROI
University of Maryland-College Park
MD · Public
55
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
14.3x
ROI
Also at Drake University

Other top programs at Drake University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Drake University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Journalism at Drake University

What does a 31/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Journalism at Drake 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 Drake 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.