Home Schools Pepperdine University Journalism
Communications · Journalism Rank #101 of 178

Journalismat Pepperdine University

Graduates earn $42,536/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Journalism average. Base-case 10-year earnings $490K; scenarios range from $460K to $490K depending on AI disruption.

Malibu, CA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
32 AT RISK
33
Optimistic
26
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,536
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$490K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Pepperdine University

First-year earnings of $42,536 at Pepperdine University come in 24% above the national median of $34,417 for Journalism programs.

An earnings multiple of 1.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 64% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #101 out of 178 programs, Pepperdine University's financial outcomes for Journalism trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

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
$460K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score26/100
Earnings Multiple1.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$490K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$490K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score33/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Pepperdine 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 Pepperdine 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
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
35
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
1.5x
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
Also at Pepperdine University

Other top programs at Pepperdine University

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Journalism at Pepperdine University

How does Pepperdine University's Journalism program score?

This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Journalism. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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.