Journalism at Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,659/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #139 of 178 Journalism programs

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 $417K $428K $418K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.0x 11.3x 11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.6x 3.7x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 28 25

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,024
Out-of-state: $116,168 (3.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$50,396
-33% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,462
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,659/yr, roughly in line with the $34,417 national median for Journalism. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Journalism programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Journalism's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -0% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,462 represents roughly 8 months of the $30,659 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #139 of 178 Journalism programs, Middle Tennessee State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Middle Tennessee State University

A 68% admission rate makes Middle Tennessee State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 16,115 in Murfreesboro, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at Middle Tennessee 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

Journalism at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at Middle Tennessee State University?
A score of 28/100 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 $417,745 in decade earnings vs $417,375 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →