Journalism at West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,075/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market
Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI
15.1x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
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 | $597K | $582K | $522K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 15.5x | 15.1x | 13.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.5x | 5.3x | 4.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 53% | 46% | 31% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 43 | 43 | 39 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,592
Out-of-state: $109,440 (5.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,188
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,325
74% growth from Year 1
About West Virginia University
A 86% acceptance rate means West Virginia University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 17,705 students in Morgantown, WV.
See all programs and financial aid at West Virginia University →Top Career Paths
Communications teachers, postsecondary
$77,800/yr
Editors
$75,260/yr
Writers and authors
$72,270/yr
Compare & Explore
Journalism at Other Schools
Other Majors at West Virginia University
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Journalism at West Virginia University?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Journalism. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Journalism careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $522,408 in decade earnings vs $596,597 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes West Virginia University's Journalism program stand out?
Ranked #30 of 178 programs nationally, West Virginia University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →