Journalism at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,082/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 9.8x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #110 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 $536K $530K $487K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.9x 9.8x 9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.1x 3.8x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 32 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)
$53,936
Out-of-state: $127,896 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,436
-34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,157
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,252
60% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $32,082/yr, Journalism graduates from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville land near the $34,417 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.8x 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,157 represents roughly 8 months of the $32,082 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #110 of 178 Journalism programs, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $51,252 show a 60% jump from the $32,082 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville accepts 46% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, serving a student body of 28,763 in Knoxville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →

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

Other Majors at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
A score of 32/100 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 $487,290 in decade earnings vs $536,460 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →