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Journalism at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
33
Optimistic
33
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,273/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #97 of 178 Journalism programs

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 $452K $457K $438K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.7x 8.8x 8.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.9x 3.9x 3.8x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 33 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,988
Out-of-state: $116,292 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,604
-11% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,625
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Washington State University's Journalism graduates start at $36,273/yr — above the $34,417 national average, though not by a wide margin.

At 8.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 64% task exposure — and the 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,625 debt-to-$36,273 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #97 out of 178 programs, Washington State University's financial outcomes for Journalism trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Washington State University

A 85% acceptance rate means Washington State University is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 21,583 in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

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)

Other Majors at Washington State University

Computer Engineering ($87,135) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($83,894) Construction Engineering Technologies ($80,404) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,874) Computer Science ($79,519) Civil Engineering ($74,841) Mechanical Engineering ($72,690) Chemical Engineering ($69,820)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Washington State University's Journalism program score?
This program scores 33/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →