Home › Northern Illinois University › Journalism

Journalism at Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,753/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 9.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #123 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 $506K $504K $469K
Earnings Multiple 10.0x 9.9x 9.2x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$50,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,636
-2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,625
8.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,283
49% growth from Year 1

About Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University has a 70% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 11,277 students in Dekalb, IL. 46% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Illinois 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 Northern Illinois University

Computer Science ($77,257) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,557) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,442) Industrial Engineering ($72,112) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($70,654) Mechanical Engineering ($68,069) Accounting and Related Services ($63,743) Engineering Technology, General ($62,117)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at Northern Illinois University?
A score of 30/100 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 $469,477 in decade earnings vs $505,958 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →