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Communications · Journalism Rank #73 of 178

Journalismat Northeastern University

Graduates earn $51,855/yr in their first year — about 51.0% above the national Journalism average. Base-case 10-year earnings $565K; scenarios range from $510K to $576K depending on AI disruption.

Boston, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
35 AT RISK
36
Optimistic
28
Pessimistic
Earnings
$51,855
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$565K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Northeastern University

While the earnings data looks strong, the real story at Northeastern is its famous co-op program. This isn't just a summer internship; you’ll spend multiple semesters working full-time at major media outlets. Think rotations at The Boston Globe, WBUR, or even national networks, building a professional resume and network long before you graduate. This hands-on experience is why graduates hit the ground running and command higher starting salaries in a competitive field.

The high AI risk score, however, is a crucial warning. Your success will depend on mastering skills that automation can't replicate: investigative reporting, source building, and multimedia storytelling. Your key takeaway: aggressively use the co-op system to build a portfolio that showcases your unique human insight and adaptability, proving you're more than just a content generator.

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
$510K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score28/100
Earnings Multiple2.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$565K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple2.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$576K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple2.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Northeastern 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 Northeastern 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
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
Brigham Young University
UT · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
20.0x
ROI
Also at Northeastern University

Other top programs at Northeastern University

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Journalism at Northeastern University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at Northeastern University?

A score of 35/100 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 $510,473 in decade earnings vs $576,160 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.