Journalism at Louisiana Tech University

Ruston, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
21 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
22
Optimistic
21
Base Case
19
Pessimistic
Earnings $21,087/yr (-39% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 9.3x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #171 of 178 Journalism programs

Program Analysis

The earnings data for this program reflects the realities of its regional job market. A Louisiana Tech journalism degree primarily prepares you for roles within Louisiana and the surrounding states, where salaries in media and communications are simply lower than in major coastal hubs. Your first job is more likely to be at a small-town newspaper, a local TV affiliate in a city like Shreveport, or handling communications for a regional business, rather than a national outlet in New York or D.C. While the program provides a solid foundation, it doesn't have the extensive, high-paying recruiting pipelines of more nationally recognized journalism schools. To maximize your prospects, your key action is to build a portfolio that transcends geography. Actively seek out remote freelance writing and editing opportunities with national publications while you are still in school; this demonstrates you can compete for higher-paying work regardless of your location.

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 $359K $378K $384K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.9x 9.3x 9.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.3x 5.6x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 22 21 19

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,500
Out-of-state: $67,464 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$48,836
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
12.8 months of Year 1 earnings

About Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana Tech University accepts 73% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 7,819 students in Ruston, LA.

See all programs and financial aid at Louisiana Tech 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

Journalism at Other Schools

Other Majors at Louisiana Tech University

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Louisiana Tech University's Journalism program score?
This program scores 21/100 — on the lower end for Journalism. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Louisiana Tech University Journalism graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.1x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
How vulnerable is Journalism to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Journalism careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 64% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Journalism earnings lower at Louisiana Tech University?
Lower starting pay at Louisiana Tech University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →