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Journalism at Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $26,591/yr (-23% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)

Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)

ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #148 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	$562K	$553K	$502K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.8x	9.7x	8.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.6x	4.5x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	46%	31%
DegreeOutlook Score	27	27	24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$57,188

Out-of-state: $121,676 (4.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,092

-3% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,725

12.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,442

93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $26,591 place Wayne State University below the $34,417 national median for Journalism — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

At 9.7x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,725 debt load exceeds a year of the $26,591 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

At #148 out of 178 programs, Wayne State University's financial outcomes for Journalism trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $26,591 to $51,442 over five years (93% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Wayne State University

Wayne State University accepts 82% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 15,676 students in Detroit, MI. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Wayne 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

Journalism at Other Schools

Other Majors at Wayne State University

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wayne State University's Journalism program score?

This program scores 27/100 — on the lower end for Journalism. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Do Wayne State University Journalism graduates earn enough to justify the loans?

The debt-to-income ratio of 1.0x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.

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 are Journalism earnings lower at Wayne State University?

Lower starting pay at Wayne State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →