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Journalism at University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,958/yr (28% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 of 178 Journalism programs Top 5%

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 $632K $613K $543K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.2x 10.8x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 4.5x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,520
Out-of-state: $137,352 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,556
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,000
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,004
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Missouri-Columbia Journalism graduates command $43,958/yr out of the gate, well above the $34,417 national median. That 28% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

The 10.8x 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 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,000 in median debt clears quickly against $43,958 in annual earnings.

Ranked #7 out of 178 programs, University of Missouri-Columbia's Journalism program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $43,958 to $68,004 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Missouri-Columbia

A 77% acceptance rate means University of Missouri-Columbia is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 23,118 students in Columbia, MO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Missouri-Columbia →

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

Compare this program → View all 178 schools offering Journalism →

Journalism at Other Schools

George Washington University ($52,015) Northeastern University ($51,855) Northwestern University ($50,426) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($48,637) University of Maryland-College Park ($46,893) Brigham Young University ($46,652) Lehigh University ($45,256) University of Southern California ($44,651)

Compare Journalism

University of Missouri-Columbia vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo → University of Missouri-Columbia vs University of Maryland-College Park → University of Missouri-Columbia vs Brigham Young University →

Other Majors at University of Missouri-Columbia

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($85,400) Computer Engineering ($83,243) Industrial Engineering ($79,894) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($72,886) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($72,300) Mechanical Engineering ($71,800) Engineering, General ($70,366) Chemical Engineering ($69,950)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Missouri-Columbia's Journalism program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Journalism graduates.
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 Missouri-Columbia rank so high for Journalism?
The #7 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →