Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $25,675/yr fall 25% below the $34,417 national median for Journalism. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 10.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Journalism career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At a 1.0x debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio, loan repayment extends well beyond graduation. Financial aid and income-driven plans become important considerations.
A #156 ranking among 178 Journalism programs places Radford University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The $25,675-to-$48,517 earnings arc over five years reflects a 89% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.