Journalism at Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,545/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 8.6x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #91 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 $511K $508K $472K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.7x 8.6x 8.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.5x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 33 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,776
Out-of-state: $92,752 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,336
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,212
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,213
38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,545/yr, roughly in line with the $34,417 national median for Journalism. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,212 represents roughly 9 months of the $35,545 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #91 of 178 Journalism programs, Oakland University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $35,545 to $49,213 over five years — a 38% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Oakland University

Oakland University accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 12,450 students in Rochester Hills, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Oakland 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 Oakland University?
A score of 33/100 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 $472,324 in decade earnings vs $510,835 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →