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Communications · Journalism Rank #82 of 178

Journalismat Syracuse University

Graduates earn $40,757/yr in their first year — about 18.0% above the national Journalism average. Base-case 10-year earnings $657K; scenarios range from $573K to $684K depending on AI disruption.

Syracuse, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
34 AT RISK
35
Optimistic
28
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,757
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.9x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$657K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Syracuse University

Graduates earn $40,757/yr, edging above the $34,417 national average for Journalism — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $40,757 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #82 of 178 Journalism programs, Syracuse University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $72,696 show a 78% jump from the $40,757 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

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
$573K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score28/100
Earnings Multiple2.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$657K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score34/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$684K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Syracuse 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 Syracuse 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 Syracuse University

Other top programs at Syracuse University

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Journalism at Syracuse University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at Syracuse University?

A score of 34/100 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 $573,275 in decade earnings vs $683,703 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.