Home Schools University of Maryland-College Park Journalism
Communications · Journalism Rank #2 of 178

Journalismat University of Maryland-College Park

Graduates earn $46,893/yr in their first year — about 36.0% above the national Journalism average. Base-case 10-year earnings $622K; scenarios range from $549K to $643K depending on AI disruption.

College Park, MD Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
55 SOLID
57
Optimistic
49
Pessimistic
Earnings
$46,893
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$622K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Maryland-College Park

The strong outcomes for Maryland journalism graduates are a direct result of location and reputation. Being just outside Washington, D.C., puts you at the epicenter of national news, policy, and non-profit communications. The Philip Merrill College of Journalism is a powerhouse with deep connections, creating a direct hiring pipeline to major newsrooms like The Washington Post, NPR, and Politico, as well as government agencies and advocacy groups that need skilled storytellers. This isn't just about traditional reporting; it's about data journalism, video production, and strategic communications for a high-stakes audience. While AI poses a threat to basic content creation, the complex, investigative, and relationship-driven work prominent in the D.C. market is more resilient. Your key move here is to secure a D.C.-based internship as early as possible to start building your professional network.

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
$549K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple11.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$622K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple13.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$643K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple14.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Maryland-College Park'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 Maryland-College Park 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
Brigham Young University
UT · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
20.0x
ROI
Also at University of Maryland-College Park

Other top programs at University of Maryland-College Park

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland-College Park, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Journalism at University of Maryland-College Park

What does a 55/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Journalism at University of Maryland-College Park?

At 55/100, University of Maryland-College Park's Journalism program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Journalism at University of Maryland-College Park?

The 64% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is University of Maryland-College Park one of the best schools for Journalism?

Among 178 Journalism programs, University of Maryland-College Park's #2 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.