Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $32,423 track close to the $34,417 national median for Journalism programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Journalism programs nationally.
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.
At $14,000 in median debt against $32,423 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #49 of 178 Journalism programs, University of New Mexico-Main Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $51,500 show a 59% jump from the $32,423 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.