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Communications · Journalism Rank #15 of 178

Journalismat Utah State University

Graduates earn $41,431/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Journalism average. Base-case 10-year earnings $535K; scenarios range from $490K to $541K depending on AI disruption.

Logan, UT Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
48 AVERAGE
49
Optimistic
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,431
1-year post-graduation
ROI
13.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$535K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
61% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Utah State University

Graduates earn $41,431/yr, edging above the $34,417 national average for Journalism — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

With a 14.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Journalism career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $16,932 in median debt against $41,431 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #15 of 178 programs, this Journalism program outperforms the majority of its peers. The top 10% ranking reflects consistently above-average outcomes.

A 33% earnings increase from $41,431 to $55,166 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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
$490K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple13.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$535K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple14.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$541K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple14.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Utah State University'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 Utah State University 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 Utah State University

Other top programs at Utah State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Utah State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Journalism at Utah State University

What does a 48/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Journalism at Utah State University?

At 48/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Journalism programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Journalism at Utah State University?

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.