Home Schools University of Central Florida Journalism
Communications · Journalism Rank #26 of 178

Journalismat University of Central Florida

Graduates earn $40,945/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Journalism average. Base-case 10-year earnings $482K; scenarios range from $454K to $480K depending on AI disruption.

Orlando, FL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
44 AVERAGE
45
Optimistic
38
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,945
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$482K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Central Florida

Graduates earn $40,945/yr, edging above the $34,417 national average for Journalism — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 18.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 64% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $18,810 in median debt against $40,945 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #26 out of 178 programs, University of Central Florida's Journalism program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

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
$454K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple17.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$482K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple18.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$480K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple18.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Central Florida'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 University of Central Florida 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 University of Central Florida

Other top programs at University of Central Florida

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Central Florida, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Journalism at University of Central Florida

How does University of Central Florida's Journalism program score?

This program scores 44/100 — 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.

Why does University of Central Florida rank so high for Journalism?

The #26 ranking out of 178 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.